Woah, I am in shock... 10 reviews, it is almost frightening. My biggest blow on one chapter came from my old Harry Potter story, where one chapter has managed 17, but that has taken well... ages to get. Oh well, I hope I will live up to your expectations guys, I hardly know what i got myself into, but oh well... it's good to get some challenges once in a while, and to make a really good story... I feel like I am through with the dreamy-weavy fictions that sounds like a fairytale, hence my earlier jobs. For once I am doing loads of research, loads of thinking and loads of digging into my own experiences.

Speaking of which I should apologise for the VERY short and very quickly-made prologue to this story... but the first part was written before i knew where I wanted this story to end. Thanks to wikipedia I have come up with my own ideas, and I am not copying others (if not unintentionally).

Shitza

Chapter 1

Why is Fate so Cruel

Uchiha Sasuke groaned. He had forgotten this, he had forgotten this pain of being home. He had forgotten the pain of having so many talking around him. He had forgotten the pain of people talking about him. It had been almost 3 years since he had left this place, but for what reason?

'He said he would give me powers' he thought as someone tugged upon the rope tied around his hands. In front of him Konohamaru grinned claiming he had captured the escaped Uchiha. Sure, like this shrimp could capture him if he had really wanted to. If Sasuke would have wanted, he would be out from these ropes by one second. No, Konohamaru had had the fortune of running into him as he sat by a clearing, philosophising about life.

Around him a mass of people walked, to make sure he wouldn't escape. He recognised some of them, he could feel their eyes watching him. Neji, Shikamaru and Kiba, all three walked close to him, keeping an suspecting eye upon him. Treating him like a criminal, a stranger and yet recognising him. They probably wondered what he was doing there, the traitor as he was?

He was surprised that Naruto hadn't arrived yet. The nosy, loud-mouthed dobe was missing. Of all people, considering to how much the blond boy had struggled to get him back, he thought he would be there to meet him. As well as the girl... what was her name... oh yes, Sakura. Where was she, not swooning over him, it was... strange.

"We will take you up to the Hokage, she personally wanted to have a few words with you." Neji said not looking at him, well normally... Someone tugged again on the ropes, leading him back through memory lane. Up the stairs to the Hokage's office, where Tsunade, the legendary Sucker waited with her arms crossed. Shizune stood beside her, with the little pig Ton Ton in her arms.

He was showed down into a chair, looking right up at her hovering above.

"Well... well... what do we have here!" she said smiling. "After all these years, Uchiha, what made you come back now?"

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. Of all questions, she was asking this? Why not, why are you here, traitor? Or, where is Orochimaru... they seemed to be so involved in such things just some hours ago.

He cleared his throat... even though it was a pain just to answer, he knew he would be death-sentenced by not doing so, and Itachi was still alive...

"There is nothing that Orochimaru could offer me, to keep me there. He wanted my body, but his eyes for killing only rested upon Kuro. I realised this, about a year ago and it made me rethink about my situation... After all, I have a goal in my life to kill a certain man, and he's not Kuro... As soon as I was sure that Orochimaru simply trained me for his own strength, I decided it was about to leave."

"How did you escape?" Tsunade asked calmly.

Sasuke laughed. "Perhaps Orochimaru isn't stupid, but he is not the very cleverest of all. It's not like he was the strongest you have ever seen, besides he is a rat that hides in a shadow letting his puppets take care of the job until it is time for him to strike, to claim the victory by himself. The fools that followed him earlier did so because they fully believed in what he told them. It is not like he kept the closest watch over me, even though many of his men kept an eye on me. So, only a few days ago I got so sick of being his puppy, I killed his men and fled. Of course he has been trying to find me, but it's not like you can capture an Uchiha easily."

Tsunade nodded. Even though she could hardly understand how it had been possible to flee from him. But she guessed that Sasuke had become more powerful then when he was younger, more determined to finally kill his brother and that these instincts had driven him to finally clashed into something that ended up with a conclusion to find his own path, away from people who would decide his life. A wise, and stupid decision.

"Sasuke, this is perhaps the most important question I will ask of you today. Why did you return to Konoha?"

He snorted. "I hardly know that myself. I was just running, not caring where my feet brought me, and I ended up here. It's not like I noticed where I was going... or where I ended up going until that squirt caught me with a rope. When he brought me here I noticed how much running away can wear you out."

Behind her Tsunade could hear a laughter. Not from Shizune, whose eyes had turned into platters, but from Ton Ton. She could no less agree... it was quite funny.

So, grandma... aren't you and the others going to punish me for running away and then coming back like this? Will you throw me with the other prisoners, or will you kill me at once!" he asked sounding bored. This whole conversation was more then he could understand.

Tsunade shook her head. "You will receive some watch guards, and don't you kill them for doing there job, it's not like the village itself will trust you after all of this. Also, I will have to put a securing seal that will be able to report to me about your actions. You will not be allowed to take missions outside the village unless escorted by Chuunin or higher levels, nor will you be allowed to take the Chuunin exam. This, will probably continue for some time until me and others can report you as safe, I will not set any time since time can be underestimated."

Sasuke blinked. Was that really all there was...

"But I suppose this won't be the worst of it. Sasuke, I know you wonder why your punishment didn't end up like more, but I'll tell you why... I've been a teenager myself and I've done foolish mistakes. Sometimes I think being twelve isn't the ideal age for letting a child wander out in the world, but I've been proven wrong. However, it is not my punishment that will prove you hard, it will be the social punishment. Since you left, many things have changed and opinions have changed. Now problems have arrived for us, and your arrival will not make things better. First of all, all of your old friends and rivals are now Chuunin even Jounin level, yes, even Naruto managed to become a Chuunin a year and a half ago. If I am not mistaken he will try to take the Jounin exam this year. And Sakura is a Chuunin and medic nin, pretty skilled if I do say so myself. Most of your friends will see you as a traitor and I know you don't think you will care, but I am telling you a human heart seeks for people to care about and so will yours. My advice would be to try and regain their trust... Your friends' trust, your rivals' trust and the village's trust."

Sasuke stared at her. One word came from his lips... "trust"

Tsunade smiled. As the Uchiha sat deep in thought the Godaime made several complicated hand seals and planted a cross-shaped seal upon his shoulder, next to the seal that Orochimaru had given to him.

"You can go now, you are dismissed." she said returning to her desk and the pile of reports that had arrived for her.

Sasuke didn't say anything, just rose and walked out. Shizune stared at her old friend, wondering what in the world she was thinking? As Sasuke closed the door he was met by blond hair and bright blue eyes. The two of them stared at each other, blinked and then the Uchiha hurried away. Naruto made a hint to go after him, but Tsunade stopped him with some well chosen words.

"Naruto, just the person I needed to talk with..."

It wasn't just like she had never said those words before, but instead of hurrying after his so called "lost friend and rival" Naruto stumbled and fell back into the Hokage's office. It was a lucky thing he didn't hurry after Sasuke because right then the pain reappeared again, stronger this time. Shizune hurried to his side, helping him to stand.

"T-Tsunade-baachan... t-t-the seal..." he managed to say through gritted teeth in pain. Shizune carefully placed him on the same chair Sasuke had been seated on earlier as the Legendary healer went after a certain scroll she had been using for these occasions. "Fuukutsuu no kyuubi" the pain-seal of the nine tailed fox. (A/N: Since I am not reading Japanese, correct me if I am wrong).

Finally Naruto was allowed to take a deep breath and relax. Not that the blond boy knew the word relax. His mouth opened just to spill out all kinds of questions. Since Tsunade didn't seem to have any plans on letting him go and see his since long vanished friend, many questions popped up. For him, the newly updated of the more grown-up, not-kid-anymore Sasuke swirled around. He really didn't know what to feel... relieved, happy or angry, it was too much for him...

Tsunade didn't listen to half of his questions, just simply stated that one day Sasuke would have to answer that for himself. However she stated several things firmly, and if Naruto would break these points he would have to spend the rest of the year washing the four Hokage Heads with a toothbrush. And it was only April so far.

Firstly, Naruto was forbidden to go around asking Sasuke all these questions in his head, if Sasuke didn't feel like telling then Naruto would shut up!

Secondly, he was forbidden to spread around rumours, or give out the things Sasuke would eventually say. Last thing he needed was rumours. She deeply reminded him of his own childhood as he could remember the villagers spreading false rumours around him.

Thirdly, he was not allowed to look down upon the Uchiha, who clearly from now on would already receive some harsh months ahead. This also meant that even though their regular fights would not be unavoidable (even she knew that) Naruto would have to bite his tongue instead of calling Sasuke names and such. This would prove to be harder then the previous two...

For Naruto this meant trouble, as he already knew he had problems shutting up in anything, hence his earlier missions.

After saying this, she shooed him out. As Hokage she had lots more to do, and having Naruto complaining about things wasn't worth her very valuable time at the moment, even though she still hadn't changed her ideas of seeing him as a future Hokage. No, instead she had secretly made certain preparations for the day she knew he would be mature enough to carry that role. But even though he was 16 and not 12 anymore, old habits rarely disappeared.

Seeing the blond boy she let out a deep sigh, continuing to the mass of reports. Shizune and she sat late till night with a various amount of reports. As well, after having dismissed of the fox-container she had to raise the defence of the village and keep alert. She knew Sasuke said that he had killed men of Orochimaru's and knowing the Uchiha was his superior target it was better to be prepared than bewilderingly ambushed. Speaking of Uchiha she thought rising her head in the middle of a report coming from none other then Sasuke's old teacher Kakashi, she smiled thinking about the years that had been. She knew this could happen, young children always made the wrong decisions and somehow everything would turn out all right. She liked to gamble and it was gambling that lead to her decisions many times. Smiling she walked up to the window, gazing down at the village. It was getting late, and everyone except for the Jounin and Chuunin with guard duties seemed to return home. Yawning she too realised she could deserve a break and wondered if she would be able to perhaps trick Shizune to go down for dinner. Her nosy friend when it came to her duties rarely agreed to anything until all the work was done.

Down below her window Naruto walked home, feeling as glum as ever. However, a small smile couldn't leave his lips thinking that he finally had Sasuke home with them. Not thinking really where he went he ended up outside the Uchiha Mansions. In one of the houses he could see his old friends silhouette in a candlelight. Somehow this made him feel warm inside to know that even though loads of things happened now, some things didn't have to be bad. Sighing, giving his friend one last smile he walked home again.

Slowly the sun rose over Konoha and everyone who lived there in its harmony. People woke up, opened their stores and hurried to their jobs or in the shinobis case, missions. Sakura wasn't an exception as she ran through the streets to hurry to her next lesson with the Hokage. Truly, her skills as a medic-nin were steadily improving and it was great. During her missions she no longer felt like the one who looked at other peoples' backs, no she was walking beside them, yet another path. During the years that had passed since she started curing instead of killing, she had been teamed up with almost all the shinobis at her age, proving many times to be the aid she always wanted to be.

As she was running she couldn't miss overhearing the daily conversations, or snippets from them. And today she almost stumbled. One name echoed wherever she came: Sasuke... But this couldn't be true, could it? Sasuke was with that slimy-bastard Orochimaru. Only in her dreams that he would be back and...

Without looking carefully she suddenly felt herself bump into someone. Ino would definitely have called her a klutz if she saw this, but Ino wasn't here to comment. She looked up to meet blue eyes. Naruto was scratching his head.

"Sorry Sakura-chan!" he said. "I didn't mean to run into you, but to be honest I've been looking for you since you parents told me about five minutes ago that you were out."

Sakura blinked. "Really, what for?" she asked. 'I sure hope he is not going to ask me out again, it would be the 572nd try if he did. Besides, shouldn't he be with the Hokage and Iruka trying to figure out his own problems?'

"Tsunade-baachan told me a few minutes ago to meet up with Kakashi, he has returned from his mission. Also, we are about to meet up with him as well, reunion you know."

Sakura looked puzzled. Even though she liked doing quizzes this was too much of a quiz for her to solve. "Whom?" she asked.

Naruto stumbled. "Sakura, hasn't anyone told you yet, it's been the News all over Konoha ever since last night! Have you been locked up in your closet or something?" Naruto said, almost like a blame.

Sakura clenched her fist. "Get to the point, Naruto-baka!" she said through clenched teeth. It wasn't as if she could take more insults now.

"Sasuke.. Sakura, Sasuke came home only yesterday night..."

TBC

All right, i know i said to some this chapter was going to be finished this weekend, eh... some changes, I got such an rush to continue this it is finished well, very much earlier. Oh well, i hope no one blames you for that...

Until next time, sorry for another cliffie... I should have warned you for this. I love cliffhangers and so live with it.

GTG, getting late and I have school tomorrow.

Shitza