A/N: I know this is fast but I already had this chapter done before chapter 2. lol In any case, the real story starts now. Hope you like it and don't forget to review please.

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Chapter 3: The Past Returns.

1 year later

"Why did you come back?" Tsunade asked with a cold glare.

Sasuke had returned. As soon as he was spotted, a group pf jounins came and captured him before he could continue any further to the village. He was immediately taken to Tsunade's office.

Sasuke was being held by 2 Kotetsu and Izumo.

"Because...I didn't want the life Orochimaru offered me."

"I think that's too vague an explanation even for you Sasuke. You did wanted that life because you chose it. Now, I want a clear and understandable explanation. Even if it's a lie make it sound like the truth." Tsunade said with a firm tone.

Sasuke stared at Tsunade. He certainly didn't want to give his explanation in front of Kotetsu and Izumo. Tsunade understood what his silence meant.

"Very well. You'll tell me afterwards. But answer me this, what happened with Orochimaru?" Tsunade asked.

Sasuke kept silence for a moment. He closed his eyes momentarily and opened them again. "Dead."

Izumo and Kotetsu looked at each other with wide-opened eyes. Tsunade was shocked as well, but didn't express it.

"You killed Orochimaru?" Tsunade narrowed her eyes.

"I did." Sasuke answered firmly.

Tsunade looked at him up and down. She couldn't believe that Sasuke killed Orochimaru. This gave her a momentarily sense of fear. If Sasuke could do it meant that he had become stronger during the years, which could mean a threat to Konoha. Yet, she saw no reason why Sasuke could want to bring danger to Konoha.

"In any case, on to your sentence." Tsunade looked at the papers in her desk and searched for the one that had Sasuke's sentence written down. "Now, because of your treason for Konoha, you have been resigned as a ninja. For a period time of 4 years, you will be confined inside. Konoha. You will use the time to work on simple D ranked mission, depending on your work inside Konoha we'll determine, after the 4 years period had passed, whether you should apply for the chunin exam or not. Now, there's one last thing."

Tsunade closed her eyes momentarily. Sasuke looked at her.

"You will have to give up on Itachi."

Sasuke swallowed and glared at her. Of all the things, she was telling him to give up on the one thing that kept him alive. The one thing he had been fighting and devoting his entire life for. She was ordering him to forget about it.

"We cannot risk having you leave again. We know Itachi is still alive, and as long as he is you won't stop your desire for revenge."

Sasuke didn't respond.

"If you do not accept this last term, I will have you confined to Konoha until you do otherwise." Tsunade added.

Sasuke remained silent for a moment before he answered.

"Fine."

Tsunade sighed, relieved. "Good. Izumo. Kotetsu."

"Yes." They both replied.

"Release Sasuke and leave. I need to speak alone with him."

Izumo released Sasuke and, along with Kotetsu, they both left the office.

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Naruto ran to the Hokage tower, and found Kakashi leaning in the wall of the door, with a troubled face.

"Kakashi-sensei! Kakashi-sensei!" He cried.

Kakashi turned to Naruto.

"Hello Naruto."

"Is it true?! That Sasuke came back!" Naruto asked anxiously.

Kakashi looked at Naruto for a moment and nodded.

"Yes. He's currently with Tsunade."

Naruto rolled his fists. "I see."

Kakashi knew perfectly that Naruto was angry at Sasuke. Naruto was also one of the few people that witnessed the despair Sakura went after Sasuke left. Naruto will always resent what Sasuke did to Sakura.

Sakura came outside from the door holding some papers.

"Hey, what are you doing here?"

"Did you know?" Naruto asked softly.

"Know what?" Sakura gave him a confused face.

"Sasuke came back." Naruto said reluctantly.

Sakura's eyes widened and she let her papers fall.

Naruto kneeled to pick Sakura's paper. He didn't like the face Sakura made, though it was expected.

Kakashi stared at Sakura's gaped expression. He noticed that her hands were trembling. Actually, he had expected her to make that kind of reaction.

Naruto handed Sakura the papers. Naruto called her but she didn't respond. After the second call, Sakura came to her sense and grabbed the papers from Naruto's hands.

"Thanks Naruto. Um…I have to do something. I'll…I'll see you guys later." Sakura said with an uneasy tone.

Naruto understood why Sakura wanted leave. It was clear that she wasn't prepared to see Sasuke after such a long time. He could understand that she needed time to prepare herself mentally before seeing Sasuke.

"Alright. I'll see you later." Naruto said. It still hurt him when he remember Sakura's grief. He swore that he was never going to forgive Sasuke for what he did.

Sakura gave both them a smile that was as uneasy as her face and departed.

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Sakura came to her apartment. She closed the door behind her and leaned on it, letting her papers fall.

She looked down at the floor. He…he came back.

Suddenly, a painful flashback invaded her mind: the night Sasuke left. She still remembered it perfectly. Sasuke leaving, her trying to make him stay, her confession, her tears, Sasuke apparent indifference…and in the end, she was left with 2 simple words: 'Thank you'. The 2 words she had spent her past time trying to define their meaning. Why had he said them? Did he really mean it? Did they even mean anything to him?

Sakura slowly sat on the floor and hugged her knees tightly towards her chest. She dug her face in them, and sobbed.

Sasuke…kun…

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Sasuke left Tsunade's office and headed outside. Just when he passed the door, there was Kakashi.

"Hello Sasuke." Kakashi said with the same laid-back tone as he used to.

Sasuke lowered his head and looked away.

"Come on. Let's take a walk." Kakashi and Sasuke left.

As they walked in the village, people kept murmuring and whispering; talking between each other about Sasuke. Sasuke wouldn't look neither to his right nor his left.

"You ought to feel like that. After all, the villagers still resent the fact that you betrayed them." Kakashi said.

Sasuke didn't respond.

Finally, they stopped in a solitary place. Better said, it was the place where Team 7 did their survival training. The 3 logs were still there as always. Sasuke looked at the surrounding habitat; how could he forget this place. Kakashi walked forward and stood by one of the logs.

"Kakashi…why aren't your scowling me or giving me the same cold glare Tsunade did?" Sasuke asked looking away.

"Because…I figured you're already ashamed as it is." Kakashi answered.

Sasuke looked at him, surprised by his reply.

Sasuke opened his mouth to say something but the words wouldn't come out. Sauske has always been prideful and this word in particular wouldn't come at ease.

Kakashi saw Sasuke's attempt and knew what it was.

"Don't worry…I already forgave you." He said with the same warm smile he would give Sasuke.

Sasuke looked at him. Kakashi had been like a father to him. Still, he used the power Kakashi taught him for wrong. It was hard looking at Kakashi's smile; he didn't deserve it and he will never deserve it.

As he was lost in thought, he felt a hand on his head. He looked up.

"It's ok Sasuke. You must've been through a lot with Orochimaru. I'm just glad you're doing well. Though, I'm looking forward into seeing what you're capable off. Now, I suggest you go and talk with Naruto. He's very anxious to see you." Kakashi said.

Sasuke nodded. He didn't expect Kakashi to react like this. Still, this is what he used to like about Kakashi. He was the way his father never was.

After Sasuke left, Kakashi stayed in the same spot.

Sasuke...

Although I'm glad you have returned, I get the feeling that there's more to this. Why did you really return?

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Sasuke stood in front of Naruto's apartment; he had been for several minutes. Sasuke enrolled his fists and reluctantly, knocked at the door. Sasuke heard Naruto's footsteps. They became louder as he approached the door from the inside.

Naruto opened the door a few inches. "Who is it?"

As soon as Naruto saw Sasuke's unchangeable face, Naruto's face darkened.

"What do you want." Naruto said coldly with narrowed eyes and a glare.

"To talk." Sasuke replied with a solemn tone.

Naruto glared at Sasuke for a few minutes. He certainly didn't want to talk to him of all people, but he had a lot to explain.

"Fine." Naruto finally said. He opened his door completely and let Sasuke entered.

Once Sasuke entered the apartment and Naruto closed the door, Naruto charged at Sasuke rapidly and punched him in his right cheek. Though Sasuke almost fell due that he was caught off-guard, he still maintained his balance. He glared at Naruto and wiped the blood that dripped off the right side of his mouth. He had expected Naruto to do that.

"That isn't even the least of what you deserve." Naruto said with an angry and cold glare. A glare that said defined Naruto's emotions: hate, resent, anger…

They were all emotions that made Naruto desire to beat Sasuke to a pulp. Still, Naruto had matured and he knew that fighting now wouldn't solve anything at the moment. Sasuke had come to talk and that is what Naruto was going to do; listen to what he has to say.

Sasuke sat in the chair that was part of the dining table set. Naruto sat on the opposite side, facing Sasuke. Sasuke hadn't changed, though his hair was a bit longer. His bangs were now up to half his neck, and his hair on the back now had volume. But, his onyx eyes were the same as always. As he looked at him, a burning emotion flushed in his body. That man, the man in front of him was the same man that hurt Sakura. He's the reason Sakura almost died. He's the one that turned Sakura into a wreck. And still, he knew that Sakura still had feelings for him even if they had faded a little. Why? Why would she have feelings for a person like him? The person that hurt her, the same person that left her with those 2 words that tormented her. Why? Why? Why?

Naruto rested his elbows in the table and united his fingers; then he rested his chin in them.

"So…talk." Naruto ordered.

It took a few seconds for Sasuke to respond.

"I killed Orochimaru."

Naruto's eyes widened and he jumped out of the chair. "What?!"

"I killed him. He's gone." Sasuke repeated in a low tone.

Naruto was left gaped. How…how could it be? Sasuke…Sasuke killed Orochimaru? But…how? If he did then…is Sasuke really that strong?

The thought of Sasuke being stronger than Orochimaru haunted his mind for a moment.

"That's right I killed him. I wanted to leave that place." Sasuke added.

"Why?" asked Naruto intrigued. As far as Naruto knew, Sasuke chose to leave; now he killed him because he wanted to leave?

"Because…I didn't want to be there anymore. Orochimaru made me went through hell in his lair. It was nothing like I expected. At first it all went well but…things got worse. I was able to see Orochimaru's true sadistic manner. He wanted me to feel comfortable at first but as I got accustomed to it…he started to change his way towards me. Soon, I couldn't stand it anymore. But I played along and once I thought I had grown stronger than him, I took my chance and killed him." Sasuke explained.

Naruto listened closely. He thought Orochimaru was going to be like that, but he still had his doubts.

"I see…" Naruto said with his head lowered.

Sasuke looked at Naruto for a moment. Again, he wanted to say the same word but it he wasn't able to say it.

Naruto then looked up and smiled. "Is ok. I accept your apology. Is hard though but, I guess…you have been through a lot. You wouldn't have returned if you're apology wasn't sincere, now would it?"

Sauske looked at Naruto surprised by what he had just said. He lowered his head and nodded in a for of gratitude.

"Still…you shouldn't be apologizing to me." Naruto added.

"What are you talking about?" Sasuke asked.

Naruto stood quiet for a moment; he swallowed. "Sakura…you should apologize to her."

"Why?" Sauske asked bewildered.

"Because…she's the one that got hurt the most." Naruto answered with narrowed eyes.

"Do you have any idea of the pain she went through because of you?! After you left, she became a total wreck. She cried every day, she didn't eat a thing for almost a week, she locked herself in her room for a week, and she even got constant mental breakdowns. In fact…she even tried to kill herself."

Sasuke eyes widened.

"So really Sasuke…I will forgive you but only if you talk with Sakura and say that you're sorry for what you did to her. When she knew that you were here…I could tell by her face that she was scared; sacred to see you…sacred to feel pain again. She went to her apartment, probably to cry herself to sleep again. I swore I was never going to forgive you but if you put your pride aside and apologize to her, I just might. She deserves at least that little from you." Naruto continued.

Sasuke looked away. A sentiment of guilt came to him. He couldn't believe that Sakura had gone through so much pain because of him. The guilt caused him a knot in his throat, just by making a mental picture of her grief.

Sakura…

He kept silence for a moment, staring at the table. Finally, he closed his eyes and nodded.

"Alright. I'll go see her."

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A/N: Now I have to start chapter 4. I have a bit of internet problems so patience. I might not update it as fast. Still, it'll be worth the wait.