7:48 pm, Sasuke's POV

"Karin, what the fuck? When did you get here? Why are you wearing my shirt?" Sasuke spat.

"Don't be rude. An hour ago. It's comfortable," Karin practically sang. "I could…take it off." Karin winked.

Sasuke gagged as if he ate something disgusting. He grabbed his door knob and was about to leave, but Karin yelled out:

"Sasuke! Don't go out that door."

He didn't let go of the door knob. He thought long and hard, and opened the door and ran out. He sprinted out into the almost dark night. The last thing he heard was Karin yelling:

"Sasuke-kun! Come back!"

He ignored her and got to the street and began searching for pink hair. Sasuke ran down the street in the direction of Sakura's house trying desperately to find her before she got there; he couldn't speak to her in front of her dad. He shoved his way past crowds of people walking home, past street vendors and around any obstacle. Sasuke rounded a corner and peered ahead and saw short pink hair.

"Sakura!" he yelled. She didn't slow her jog. "Sakura stop!"

Sasuke sprinted as fast as he could and caught up to her in a matter of seconds.

"Sakura wait!"

"Go away Sasuke." There was no –kun and he noticed.

Sasuke grabbed her wrist and stopped them dead in their tracks.

"What do you want?" she asked with her jaw clenched. She wasn't crying.

Sasuke let go and she turned around, but kept her head down and avoided eye contact.

"I just need to explain that," Sasuke began.

Sakura just sighed, but she didn't walk away either.

Sasuke went on, "I wasn't cheating on you."

"No, you waited almost one day after you dumped me to find someone else."

"No! That is not what happened!"

"Then what was that!" she burst out loud for people to stare.

"Nothing. I swear."

Sakura exhaled deeply, then said: "I knew there was something…not genuine about this morning," Sakura looked him in the eyes, "Do you still love me?"

He looked her deep in her eyes, thought hard and replied, "No." She wouldn't be safe around him, "It's not your fault; I'm not looking for anyone right now."

"Then who was that red-head wearing your shirt?"

"I can't explain…"

"Look, Sasuke-kun…I know you're adjusting to this easier because it was your choice, but I need some time alone," Sakura turned around and stormed off.

Sasuke wanted to tell her to stop. To turn her around so he could tell her how much he loved her, but, this is what he wanted. Karin wanted Sasuke to be single for obvious reasons, at least this way Sakura would be safe. He thought making her cry was the worst feeling he could experience, but when she's just angry at him it hurt on a whole new level. He didn't move. He watched her walk further and further away growing sadder at each step.

I can't go home. That bitch will be there. I should just kill Karin! Let my secrets be shown. Fuck, why didn't I just admit to those killings the day I returned? Sakura wouldn't love me…no, that's not true. Fuck.

Sasuke didn't turn around back to his apartment; he turned right towards Naruto's place. He would stay with him tonight.

8:08 pm, Sasuke's POV

Sasuke knocked on his friend's door and Naruto opened it promptly.

"Hey Naruto."

"Sasuke, you look like you've seen a ghost," Naruto said.

"Hn. Do you mind if I stay here tonight?"

"Uh, yeah. Sure. What's wrong with your place?"

"Someone else is using it," Sasuke mildly explained and then walked into the messy apartment.

The blonde closed the door and turned around, "Hinata should be coming over later tonight."

"Oh. I don't want to get in the way of anything, so I could just go to a hotel."

"No it's fine we were just gonna watch a movie. Join us," Naruto implored.

"I'd rather just stay in your guest room. Alone."

"Alright, come on out if you change your mind."

Sasuke fell onto the guest bed and relaxed. He didn't know how long he was lying down when he heard Naruto open his front door. Hey heard his best friend and a woman's voice talking when he realized: that's not Hinata. Sasuke put his ear to the door and could listen to what the voices were saying.

"No I haven't seen him," said Naruto, probably talking about him.

"Oh, could I talk to you?" It was Sakura. She was 10 feet from him and only he knew it.

"Yeah come in. Hinata's coming over to see a movie later if you wanna stay."

"Maybe. I have to work tomorrow. Has Sasuke been acting differently to you?"

"Only yesterday and today he's been quieter. I'm really sorry about what happened between you two."

"Yeah, about that: I don't think he meant what he said," Sakura confessed.

"Why?"

"We were just so happy a couple days ago. He's actually a lot sweeter when we're alone."

Sasuke rolled his eyes. She wasn't wrong; he just liked keeping his "soft" side reserved for Sakura.

She went on, "I think he's hiding something. If he's hiding it from me it must be big. Did he say anything to you?"

"No. I'd tell you if I knew anything but I don't," Naruto informed.

"Well, I'll love him no matter what."

"I'm sure he'd be glad to hear that," Naruto assured her, knowing full well that Sasuke was hearing every word.

"I should go find him."

"Well, it is getting late, Sakura," Naruto told her, knowing she wouldn't find him.

"No. I didn't like the way we ended our last conversation. I need to tell him I love him unconditionally."

"Well, okay. Or! Or, you could sleep on it and find him in the morning."

"I'm gonna find him and I'm going to tell him what I told you," Sakura defiantly retorted, stood up and burst out his front door.

As soon as Sakura left, Sasuke came back to the living room.

Naruto asked, "Did you hear— "

"Follow her," Sasuke interrupted.

"What?"

"Follow her and don't let her go to my apartment."

Naruto didn't understand why Sasuke said what he said, but he understood the conviction in his voice and he left his own apartment to stop his teammate.

9:32 pm, Sasuke's POV

Sasuke was sitting at Naruto's table alone. His phone vibrated. He picked it up and read a txt from Naruto saying: "Found her. She's at her house. All safe."

Good.

-The Next Day-

8:37 am, Sakura's POV

Sakura woke up half an hour ago. She was almost done getting ready for the day at the hospital. Naruto convinced her to wait to today to confront Sasuke. She was, of course, still very sad but she was done crying. Maybe it was the years of chasing after him without hope that prepared her for the uncertainty of the next few days, but she was feeling optimistic. She walked downstairs and saw her dad drinking a cup of coffee.

"Hi dad."

"Hey, join me for breakfast?" Mr. Haruno asked.

"No I'll grab something at the hospital. Gotta go!" she called back as she headed for the front door.

"Whoa, big rush?"

Sakura stopped and turned, "No not really," she said with a smile.

"You, uh, holding up ok?" her dad asked.

"Yeah…you know, every couple goes through rough patches. Right?"

"Well, a rough patch is one thing but I thought you said you broke up?"

"…yeah we, did."

"Think you'll get back together?"

"I don't know maybe," Sakura admitted, "I gotta go. See you tonight."

"Yeah…"

Sakura left the house and began walking to her job.

Why was dad so interested in Sasuke? He never was before. I guess he really liked him!

12:30 pm, Sakura's POV

Of course Sasuke didn't come pick her up for lunch. She grabbed a sandwich from the hospital cafeteria and walked to Sasuke's apartment. She confidently walked straight to his door and knocked. There was no answer. She knocked again.

"Sasuke-kun! You home?" she called out. There was no reply. "Sasuke let's talk."

Again, there was no reply.

Maybe he isn't home. His lights are off.

Sakura walked back to the street and sighed. She really wanted to tell Sasuke that she loved him no matter what.

She was running out of time before she had to get back to the hospital. She mass txted her and Sasuke's mutual friends: Naruto, Kakashi, Sai and a few other academy classmates asking if they knew were Sasuke was. Sakura headed towards Ino's flower shop because she wanted to talk to her best friend in person.

She walked into the shop and saw Ino working behind the counter.

"Hi Ino," Sakura greeted.

"What's up Sakura?"

"Not much, just taking my lunch break."

"Hm, you seem to be in a better mood."

"Yeah I'm good," Sakura said with a smile.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Really?"

"Yes. I'm fine."

One of Ino's eyebrows shot up, "Why? I thought you'd be devastated."

"I have no proof, but I think Sasuke still loves me. I don't know, am I sounding crazy?"

"As your friend could I be honest?"

"Of course."

"I think you're in denial."

"Ino I think—"

"It's normal! It's the first stage of grief."

"…maybe you're right," Sakura sighed, "I want to cry. I want to just go back to sleep but I have to keep pushing forward. If I'm right, Sasuke and I will be happy again. If I'm wrong, I'll be sad for a while and I'll move on, but I'm not going to break down until I've given it my all."

Ino grabbed Sakura's hand and assured her, "You're going to be just fine."

0o0

Flashback

7:47 am, Sasuke's POV- 2 months ago

Sasuke and Sakura were lying naked in his bed. They just woke up fresh from last night when they both lost their virginities to each other. They were cuddling against each other with their legs intertwined.

"Sakura, are you awake," he asked.

Sakura rolled over and emerald met onyx. "Good morning."

Sasuke wrapped his arms around her body, held her close and kissed her forehead, "I love you."

She buried her face into his chest, "I love you."

End of Flashback

3:13 pm, Sasuke's POV

Sasuke was walking home from the Hokage tower. His mind was thinking back to when he and Sakura first had sex. There was the physical joy, but there was the deeper emotional connection. He didn't know why he was thinking of this particular moment. Maybe he was just trying to escape his current situation. Technically speaking, he technically just committed high treason (again). He copied a list of every ANBU member to give to Karin and Jūgo. That includes the undercover agents whose cover will be blown and their lives threatened.

I will kill them before this list hurts anyone, if I'm not too late. They'll probably sell this info to my other "friends" while keeping me here, useless. If I'm being completely honest, I would let all Leaf Ninjas die to keep Sakura safe. Maybe that makes me a terrible person.

Sasuke got to his apartment. He nervously walked in. 'Nervous' wasn't an emotion he'd felt since he tried to impress his father. No, he was always sure himself but now he was nervous about entering his own apartment.

Thankfully, Karin wasn't here. His place appeared empty until he got to his coffee table. On it was a note, written in the same handwriting as the Post It note from a couple days ago, saying: Meet us at the Genin training grounds at 5:00pm.

The training fields; where Team 7 was officially formed with the bell test. He crumpled the paper in anger.

Fuck! Fuck this! I'm gonna kill Karin. I'm gonna Jūgo. I'm, I'm, I'm gonna—

"Sasuke-kun?"

He turned around with wide eyes to see, standing in his doorframe was Sakura.

"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in the hospital?" Sasuke asked.

Sakura replied, "I had to come see you."

"Why?"

"I just had to tell you one thing..."

"Hn?"

"I loveyou unconditionally. I don't care if you did horrible things, or if you were weak or…annoying. I know I only liked you at first because you're hot, and cool and mysterious," Sakura bit her lower lip and looked away, "It wasn't until we were in the Chunin exams that I realized you were a real person with ideas, fears and weaknesses, and, it didn't make me like you less; it made me start loving you."

"…is that it?" Sasuke asked.

"Uh, yeah I guess that's what I've been thinking of—"

"I've killed people Sakura."

"Like, on missions?"

"No… I thought a couple of people knew were Akatsuki members were hiding out. I threatened to kill them if they didn't say where I might find my brother. They wouldn't talk, and I didn't want to look weak in front of my new team, so I killed them. Days later we found out our information was wrong and they were actually innocent."

"Sasuke-kun, I didn't know."

"I thought if I admitted this I wouldn't be let back in the village."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Do you still love me?"

"Yes."

"Then I love you too."

Sakura looked up and smiled, "I've missed you."

"Me too. I gotta go."

"What?"

Sasuke walked straight to Sakura and kissed her tenderly on the lips. He said nothing; he walked out leaving her smiling.

4:48 pm, Sasuke's POV

Sasuke had been waiting in the empty field show some time now. It was at this time that Karin and Jūgo showed up.

"You're early," Jūgo greeted.

"Hn," Sasuke replied.

"Do you have the list?" Karin asked.

"Yes," Sasuke informed and handed over a piece of paper to the red-head.

She took it and she instantly looked confused because in big letters was written: Fuck You.

"Sasuke…what's this?"

Sasuke smirked.

5:05 pm, Sasuke's POV

Less than twenty minutes later Karin and Jūgo were lying dead. They hurt him more than he thought they would, but their deaths wouldn't end this. He limped off to the hokage tower to explain everything and would take whatever punishment Tsunade gives him.

5:16 pm, Sasuke's POV

Tsunade was busy filling out paperwork when Sasuke burst in, bloody and hurt.

"Sasuke! What happened?" she asked.

He gave a half smile, "That's a story."

Sasuke finished explaining the entire situation. The people he killed, the blackmail and how sorry he was.

"Oh, Sasuke…I wish you told me sooner."

"Yeah, me too."

Tsunade sighed, "Sakura's my only pupil. Kakashi and I go way back. Naruto comes closer to taking my job each day. That's why I'm not going to arrest you."

Sasuke shot an eyebrow up, "You're not going to punish me?"

"No."

Sasuke stood up and began walking out, "I should go to the hospital."

"Are you that injured?"

"No."

0o0

Sasuke was walking out of the Hokage tower feeling satisfied that this was almost over. This feeling didn't last long because he bumped into a furious Mr. Haruno.

"Uchiha! My daughter came home very happy!" he yelled.

"Is that bad?" Sasuke asked.

Sakura's dad held a familiar envelope up to Sasuke's face, "I'm bringing this to the Hokage."

"I already showed her. I was pardoned of that."

He dropped the envelope and looked confused, "No. Pardoned or not I don't want you going near Sakura."

"I love her, and she loves me. I told her what I did and she still loves me."

Mr. Haruno looked flustered, "I, I don't know…"

Sasuke walked right past Sakura's dad without confrontation. He stopped a few feet past him, turned his head and called out, "I won't tell her about our talks."

Sasuke walked away. Maybe he and Sakura's dad's relationship would never be the same.

He sent Sakura a txt message: Can I come see you at the hospital?

She replied quickly: Yes. Love you.

He txted back: I love you too.

Sasuke would tell her about the blackmail. He loved her so much, and if their relationship survived this it could survive anything.