Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. If I did, Sakura would be a pimp. And Hidan would be her bitch.

Summary: The End has come…and gone. With the aftermath of one of the greatest battles in Konoha's history fresh in his mind, the traitor unknowingly sparks a perilous game of tag that cycles throughout the village. Follow each successive character as they share their perspective on the return of Uchiha Sasuke.

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Chapter Two: Contemplation Quandary

Open.

Shut.

Apple green irises expanded and contracted every time she closed, then opened her eyes. Try as she might, falling asleep at….(here she rolled over and checked the clock) 2:34 A.M. was impossible. The thoughts, memories, and worries that ran at a breakneck pace throughout her head were more distracting than a sky filled with fireworks.

Open.

Shut.

Again she rolled over, now lying on her back with twisted, sweaty sheets underneath her. She let out a small sigh, then decided to give up the notion of 'sleeping' and entertain her rampant thoughts. The ceiling above her, painted a dull white, gave a perfect backdrop to the theatre of pictures that flashes before her eyes.

Sasuke, leaving the village right before her.

Naruto-kun, promising he'd bring him back.

Naruto-kun, beaten and bloody, being healed under Tsunade-shisou's worn-out hands.

Herself in the mirror on the day that Naruto-kun left, dark circles underneath her eyes, promising herself that she would become greater than any of them, strong enough to protect the two she loved the most.

Tsunade-shisou's eyes, flashing once before her fisted hand met Sakura's ribs, effectively cracking them, then shouting at her, "Again! Like you mean it!"

The genin's face as she won her match against him, his bloody mouth agape in shock.

Her mother crying, crying, her face completely shattered, her eyes dead.

Her father in the morgue, his eyelids closed, his skin paper-thin, and pale with the shroud of death.

Naruto's older face, he had returned.

Sasuke's face, bloody, scarred, and bruised, as Kakashi-sensei carried him in.

Sasuke…( her mouth twisted a bit as she thought out his name), he was the cause of all her worries. How had he defeated Itachi? How had he gotten into the village? What had he been doing for these past years? What was he planning, where was he going now that his 'revenge' was complete?

And then there was the matter of her feelings towards him. Did she love him? Sakura pondered this for a minute, before shaking her head. No, not after what he had done to her and Naruto-kun. Did she hate him, then? This she contemplated even longer, before shaking her head yet again. No, because even as much as she was angry at him, his actions (while idiotic and wrong) still had helped him to avenge those who had been ripped away from him so suddenly, so cruelly. And the last question…Could she love him? Here she paused, all of her thoughts ramming to a halt, a wrecked train of musings. Could…she…dammit.

Dammit dammit dammit. Curse her unconditional forgiveness capacity!

Such were the questions that plagued Sakura as she turned and twisted in the dark, shadowed room. Damn, she really needed a drink. Or a couple of knockout pills, just to get her to sleep.

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Her eyes met the glassy face of the clock situated next to her bed. 2:59. She needed to run, to go, to do something, to be active…she couldn't just sit still. After all, her teammates were waiting, and she'd be damned if she let them leave her behind again.

Rolling silently out of bed, she pulled on a pair of bike shorts, fishnet undershirt, red over-shirt and her medic's skirt. Turning to her door, she tiptoed quietly to the foyer, where she grabbed her boots and gloves. Hastily yanking them on, she crept back to her window and prepared to jump, three…two…one…!

"Where do you think you're going?"

Sakura swiveled hastily from her perch, one hand going reflexively to a kunai on her leg. Her mother, clad in a blue-black silken robe and a pair of pinstriped fleece pants, blinked sleepily at her.

"Ah…uh…Mom…I-"

"Sakura, answer. Now."

Sakura fidgeted nervously with her left-hand glove. She didn't want to upset her mother, because these days, anything could set her off. Just two days ago she had burst into a sobbing fit upon discovering that they were out of eggs. Sakura flinched inwardly at the memory.

"Ano, momma, I was just…uh…going for a walk! Yes, that's it. A walk."

Her mother narrowed her blue eyes.

"Going on a walk? At this time of night? And, pray tell, where are you walking to?

Sakura gulped. Must…resist…urge…to…flee….

"Ah, I was going to...Naruto-kun's! He needs me!"

At this her mother started, her eyes widening in confusion, then comprehension, then horror.

"He needs you? He needs you? Oh my…."

It dawned on Sakura what she had just implied.

"Oh, Kami, no, no Mom! Not like that!"

Too late. Her mother tore out of the room, sniffling things like 'growing up so fast' and 'just a teenager!'

Sakura shook her head, then leapt out of the window onto the underlying shingles.

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The night air was cool and brisk, the dark sky spread out in a massive expanse above the village. Clusters of stars dotted the sky like spatters of paint on a canvas, and the moon was but a sliver. It was under this cover of darkness that she ran, her feet only kissing the rooftops before pushing upward again, carrying her through the sleeping village.

Well, she hadn't been lying to her mother in regard to her destination. Naruto-kun's apartment lay a few blocks ahead of her, lights off, dead silent. A passing surveillance ANBU waved at her as she passed, recognizing her rosy hair. She alighted on the roof, tapping the shingles lightly with one foot before vaulting under the gutter and onto the windowsill. She peered into the glass, trying hard not to fog it with her breath. Under her perch, Naruto lay sprawled on his futon, sheets twisted into an spiraling mess around his legs, his arms wrapped around his pillow. His blonde hair spread out like a halo about his head, and his face was pulled into a serene grin, mouth slightly open.

Silently, she pushed open the window and slid in, moving her feet to the ceiling and sticking them there. She looked down on the silent boy, and after a moment of concentration spoke out.

"You're not fooling anyone, Naruto-kun. You snore when you're really asleep."

He cracked one ocean-blue eye open and smiled at her.

"You always figure me out, Sakura-chan." He slowly sat up, ignoring the mass of tangled sheets around his legs. Soon his nose was uncomfortably close to Sakura's, and he was grinning smugly. She hid a blush, and released the chakra surrounding her feet, dropping silently onto his bed.

"So, Sakura-chan, what are you doing here at this time and hour? Don't tell me you just wanted my company, although…" He rolled his shoulders and made a suggestive eyebrow-raise. She scowled at him, but dropped the frown. She just couldn't stay mad at him. Not after all he'd done for her.

"Naruto-kun…there's news." She replied uncertainly, keeping her eyes glued to some point on Naruto's cheek. She was unable to meet his eyes. He frowned, confused.

"Hmm? What news, Sakura-chan? Has Tsunade-baa-chan got a new mission for us? Or…oh, no…" He glanced up at her in dawning horror.

"Ichiraku's is closing down?!"

Glare. Glare. Glare.

"…No."

He blinked, a look of understanding filling his azure eyes.

"Sakura." She looked up, and sad green met impatient blue.

"Is Sasuke-teme back?" Unable to speak due to the clot of rage that had mysteriously jumped into her throat, she nodded, twice, and slowly.

He remained silent for a long time. Then he stood.

"Wait for me outside, Sakura-chan. We've got to go see him." He paused then, and added, "And when we do, I'm going to kill that bastard."

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The Hospital itself is huge, one of the bigger buildings in Konohagaurke. Lights intermittedly speckled the front of the structure, each one representing a patient who was awake. The Hallways were dimly lit, their footsteps echoing hollowly along the walls. 112, 113, 114, 115…Ah! She tugged on Naruto's sleeve, then pointed at the room next to her. 116-E, Uchiha Sasuke.

He nodded once. It was all she needed, anyway. He turned, snatched her hand and squeezed it once, then grabbed the steel handle and pushed the door open.

Tag!

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Ah, dear, another short chapter! I must figure out a way to type more...sigh.

Kudos and Broccoli go to Gothis-lolita-4eva and SakuBunny For being the first two to review on my first story! (i'll reply shortly, guys.)

Please review, whether you loved it or hated it. Constructive critism is welcomed with open arms.

Next up is Naruto!

Luv and hugs from Cazz.