Sasuke's POV

Sasuke continued to follow Sakura, but this time he decided to keep to the back roads and on the roofs of buildings. Sasuke couldn't afford to be seen by Sakura again or else his mission would be ruined, and Akatsuki would come after the scroll.

Finally Sakura stopped at the sakura blossom tree by the bridge where team 7 used to meet before Sasuke had left. Sasuke could picture his old team waiting there. Kakashi Sensei was late as usual and Naruto was yelling about how Kakashi Sensei was never on time. Meanwhile Sakura fought for his attention and he just ignored her hoping Kakashi Sensei would come soon so he could train him to become strong enough to beat Itachi. How times had changed.

Sasuke hid himself in the nearby woods and watched Sakura. She just sat there leaning up against the tree staring off into nothing, or maybe she too was remembering the old days of team 7.

Sakura had changed so much. She was no longer a scrawny 12 year old depending on others for everything. She now had an air of confidence to her, and it seemed like she had grown up far beyond her young age of 16. Sasuke could tell that she had been through a lot. Her face was more mature and was actually quite pretty, although Sasuke wouldn't let himself admit this. Sakura's soft pink hair gracefully blew in the wind and her eyes sparkled in the remaining light of the evening. Her green eyes seemed to hold so much emotion in them and Sasuke caught himself staring at them from the distance. Her eyes contained satisfaction, sadness, determination, hope, and heartbreak. Sasuke felt another pang of guilt as he noticed a tear roll down Sakura's cheek. How much pain had he caused Sakura by leaving? Was it really worth it? Sasuke realized where his thoughts were taking him and he quickly changed their course.

"Of course leaving was worth it! I had to get my revenge on Itachi, and I wouldn't have been able to if I had stayed in Konoha. I needed Orochimaru's help whether I like it or not. If I had stayed in Konoha I would have never been able to kill Itachi and my hate would have consumed me slowly until I broke down. No, leaving was the best decision! And as soon as I have stolen the scroll I will leave again."

As Sasuke thought, anger began radiating off of him slightly, and although he didn't notice this, the young girl, sitting under the sakura tree, did.



Once the sun had practically set, Sakura finally got up to leave. Sasuke knew the time for him to confront Sakura was almost here and he was mentally preparing himself.

"Ok. Soon I will be at Sakura's house and I won't be able to put off completing my mission any longer. Somehow I don't think getting the scroll will be as easy as just asking Sakura to give it to me, she is different now. I will have to fight Sakura. Crap! I don't want to fight Sakura…."

Sasuke began to think about what would happen if he didn't fight her. He could just see Sakura laying there on the ground, a vacant expression in her beautiful green eyes with the look of surprise on her face. This is what would happen if Sasuke failed.

"No. I will fight Sakura. No matter what, I will be the one to get the scroll! If I have to fight Sakura then so be it. This shouldn't be too difficult, considering I beat Itachi."

Sakura began slowing down as she neared her apartment, which was located near the hospital and in close range of the Hokage's Tower. Sakura entered the building and Sasuke waited outside in a nearby tree. Finally a light turned on in one of the apartments and Sasuke could clearly see Sakura in her room. Sasuke slipped into a closer tree where he could watch Sakura, waiting for the perfect time to get the scroll.

Sakura walked across her apartment and put her books down on her desk by the window and then continued over to a large dresser in the corner of her room. Sasuke saw her do multiple hand signs, and he assumed she was releasing jutsus that she had protecting something. After Sakura was finished she reached into the dresser and pulled out a scroll. Sasuke's eyes widened. This was the scroll he was sent after. Madara had described the scroll to Sasuke before he left and this scroll matched the description perfectly.

After taking out the scroll Sakura walked over to her bed and sat down reading the scroll. Sasuke wondered if now was the best time to get the scroll, but he decided to wait just in case there was a better opportunity. At least that is what he told himself, but it was really because he didn't want to attack Sakura. He would put that moment off as long as possible. After about a half hour Sasuke's perfect moment came.

Seeming satisfied with her studying of the scroll, Sakura got up and put it away, performing multiple jutsus to protect it. After that Sakura went over to her 

closet, took off her leaf village headband, and grabbed some clothes. Then she disappeared into the bathroom. Sasuke waited until he heard the sound of the shower and then darted over to Sakura's window.

Carefully Sasuke slid the window open and jumped in, all without making a sound. Sasuke silently made his way over to the dresser and started to perform the same release jutsus he saw Sakura performing earlier. Sasuke was almost finished, and he checked to make sure the water was still running, it was. Suddenly Sasuke heard a noise behind him and he could smell cherry blossoms, but he was too late. Before Sasuke could turn around or respond he felt the cool blade of a kunai at his throat and a tight grip on his arm that was being held behind his back.

"What are you doing here?" Sakura hissed in his ear.

A small smirk spread across Sasuke's face as he realized his mistake. He had let his guard down and underestimated Sakura. She had no intention of taking a shower; it was just a way for her to get him to come out of hiding. And it worked.

"Why were you following me?" Sakura asked, while tightening her grip on Sasuke and putting more pressure on the kunai.

So Sakura had discovered that he had been following her. So did that mean all of today she was aware of his presence and didn't let on? She had become a better shinobi since Sasuke had left. Sakura let Sasuke believe he had the upper hand the whole time and then led Sasuke into a trap. Sakura was always intelligent, but Sasuke was amazed at how well she executed her plan, and how ignorant he had been. Sasuke could tell Sakura had gotten stronger, and he could sense her strong chakra. It suddenly occurred to Sasuke that he hadn't felt the presence of Sakura's chakra the whole time following her. So she had suppressed her chakra as well as Sasuke. But how did she know that he was following her?

"How did you know I was following you? I masked my chakra."

"You may have suppressed you chakra flow, but I could still sense you almost the entire time, especially at the sakura tree. You let off a strong aura then, you really should be more careful if you are going to follow someone."

"Yah, I'll take that into consideration next time…"

"There won't be a next time. I am taking you to the Hokage."

"Do you really think so?"



Suddenly Sasuke disappeared out of Sakura's grasp and reappeared behind Sakura, but she predicted his move. As Sasuke jumped behind Sakura she swipe kicked his feet out from underneath him, sending him to the ground. Before Sasuke had a chance to recover he was being pinned to the ground by Sakura. Once again Sasuke had a Kunai held to his throat.

"When did Sakura get so fast? She has now cornered me twice. I guess I won't be able to hold back any longer."

"I know you are using a transformation jutsu, so who are you?"

"….."

"No? Fine then!" Sakura made a hand sign for a release jutsu and touched Sasuke, "Release!"

Suddenly Sakura was no longer staring at the strange man with blue eyes, but at Sasuke Uchiha. Sasuke's face was emotionless while a look of shock swept across Sakura's face.

"Sasuke?"

"Sakura."

Sakura regained her composure and was now looking angrily at Sasuke. He would no longer get the best of her. She would show him that she was no longer weak.

"Why are you here, Sasuke?"

"I need a scroll that you are in possession of, more precisely the one that the Hokage has given you."

Sakura was beginning to become angry by how calm Sasuke was, as if he hadn't a care in the world. As if it didn't even matter that Sakura held a kunai to his throat.

"Well then you can leave Sasuke because you aren't going to get the scroll, even if it means fighting you. I'm not weak anymore Sasuke! You can't just come in here and expect for me to just hand over the scroll! Even if it means putting my life at stake I will protect the scroll!"

"Fine Sakura. I've given you a chance, but now I won't hold back any longer."



With that Sasuke pushed Sakura off of him and pulled out his katana that he had been concealing in his clothes. Sakura quickly recovered and ran at Sasuke, her fist glowing green with chakra. Sakura was fast, but Sasuke was quicker. Just as Sakura was about to make contact with Sasuke he jumped out of the way. Suddenly there was a puff of smoke as Sakura ran into the wall and Sasuke felt a pain in his stomach as Sakura suddenly appeared in front of him and punched him. Sasuke was sent flying towards the wall, but he recovered quickly. Wiping away a trail of blood from the corner of his mouth, Sasuke activated his sharingan.

"Sakura has gotten a lot better. The way she is able to control her chakra is amazing. But this has to end soon. No matter what, I can't fool around anymore. Sakura will eventually lose, so I'd better make it sooner than later."

Once again Sakura came at Sasuke ready to punch him, but this time Sasuke ran at her as well with his katana ready. Sasuke pulled back his katana ready to strike when he was within feet of Sakura. As Sakura realized her situation, a look of surprise and fear swept across her face. Sasuke saw Sakura's face and at the last minute changed his attack.

Too late to dodge the attack, Sakura prepared herself for the impact of the blade, but to her surprise what she felt was not the searing pain at of being ripped through with a blade, but a solid pain like being punched in the stomach.

Sasuke had one hand on Sakura's shoulder holding her in place and the other one gripping his katana as he struck. But Sasuke had flipped his katana, so instead of plunging his katana through Sakura's stomach he hit her hard with its handle. Sasuke heard Sakura gasp as she grabbed the katana and doubled over in pain. After coughing up blood, Sasuke watched as a smile spread across Sakura's face, replacing her look of surprise. Sasuke's eyes widened as he realized that he had made the mistake of momentarily letting his guard down.

Sakura drew back her free hand glowing green with focused chakra and plunged her fist into Sasuke's stomach. Sasuke released his grip on the katana and was forced back. Sakura appeared behind Sasuke now holding the katana to his throat.

"Sakura I can't leave without the scroll. Just give it to me. I don't want to do something we will both regret."

"You had you chance to kill me and get the scroll Sasuke. And you know I can't let you leave with the scroll. Please don't make me do this." Sakura pleaded 

in Sasuke's ear. Sakura didn't want to kill Sasuke, but she knew she would have to if he insisted on getting the scroll.

Sasuke was becoming angry with Sakura.

"Why was she making me do this? Why couldn't she just give up the scroll? Why did she insist on fighting me for it? Didn't she care what happened to her? The only reason I'm here getting the scroll is to protect her! I hate her for making me do this!!"

"I don't want to hurt you Sakura!"

"It's too late for that Sasuke! Four years too late for that! The moment you left you hurt me Sasuke! There's nothing you can do that will hurt me anymore than that!" Sakura yelled at Sasuke.

She could feel the tears starting to build in her eyes. She had waited four years to be able to tell Sasuke how she felt, and when she is finally able to, she's holding his katana to his neck threatening to kill him. Why was this happening?

"I'm sorry." Sasuke barely whispered this, but Sakura heard it.

"Sorry stopped being good enough after the first year."

"I'm sorry I left you Sakura and I'm sorry I have to leave you now."

"What….?"

Once again Sasuke disappeared. Sakura turned around and held the sword ready. There was no way Sasuke was going to get away so easily by sneaking up behind her and knocking her out again. She was ready.

Suddenly Sakura felt hot breath on her neck and her eyes widened. Sasuke had known that she would expect him to appear behind her, and reappeared in the same spot that he had been standing in a second earlier. Now Sakura was in the exact position she was in four years ago, the exact position she had been trying to avoid.

"This is the only way Sakura."

Sasuke hit Sakura and she slowly fell unconscious. Sasuke caught her and placed her on the bed before returning to the dresser. Sasuke finished completing the release jutsus and grabbed the scroll.



"Finally. All this work for a stupid scroll. No. All this work wasn't to get the scroll; I couldn't care less about the scroll. I did all of this to protect Sakura, and even though she will never realize this, it was the only way to repay her for always caring."

"Thank you Sakura. I wish I could stay here with you, but once I hand over the scroll to Madara it will be too late for me to return, even though it was to protect you."

Sasuke stood looking at Sakura. She had a pained expression on her face and guilt washed over Sasuke. Sasuke recalled the happy family who now replaced Sakura in her old apartment. There was such happiness in their eyes; happiness that Sasuke couldn't find in Sakura's eyes as she sat by the sakura blossom tree.

"I know you told me more times than I wanted, that you loved me, and I'm only sorry that I never was able to tell you the same thing. But now that it is too late I am finally able to. Sakura, I will always love you."

Sasuke leaned down and softly kissed Sakura, he wished the kiss would last forever but he had to go. Sasuke quietly turned to leave when he heard Sakura.

"I love you too, Sasuke."

Sasuke turned around ready for another fight when he realized that Sakura was still asleep. She must have just been talking in her sleep. Sasuke had to force himself to turn away from Sakura and got away from her apartment before he had second thoughts.