Oh you people have no idea how lucky you are to be getting an update. I just found out I have a huge paper due in one of my classes in like two weeks so it might be a bit longer than usually before I can update. Sorry!

In other words, I think if my favorite chapter yet. Why you may ask? Because I was cackling like a mad man when I was re-reading it earlier for revisionary purposes. If an author can laugh at their own jokes then it's got to be funny. At least that's what I think.

I would also like to thank everyone for their encouraging reviews! I hope to hear from you again!

Enjoy!

Chapter 3

Hey Honey.

The air grew thick with tension as the Konoha nin waited for the looming figure to make the first move. But said figure seemed to be enjoying their tension and took his sweet time in sauntering up the path.

"What's he up to?" Shikamaru mumbled to himself. Sure it was well known that all members of Akatsuki were insanely strong but even then, walking up in plain view to one of the most powerful shinobi villages wasn't the smartest thing to do. Even an Akatsuki member would have problems achieving their objective against a group this large.

"Remember not to look into his eyes." A voice broke through his thoughts and he turned to find Maito Gai standing off to his side. "And keep your eyes peeled for that ultra weird fish friend of his."

"Kisame." Shikamaru informed him under his breath as Gai began to do a hundred squats on the spot while waiting. "His name is Kisame." Somethings were just lost on Gai-senei.

By now things were so tense you could cut the air with knife and serve it as the main dish in four course meal. Every little sound caused the younger shinobi to jump and even Sakura was working hard to control her breathing and not let her fear show. She watched Itachi closely as he walked toward them, head hung lazily. Something was bothering her about this whole situation. Something was off with him. His cape had been the first thing that had bothered her. It hung on him in an odd manner that she couldn't quite figure out. On closer inspection she realized it was because it was actually covering whatever it was slung over his shoulder and therefore partiallly covered his body to. And the only reason he would place his own cape over what he was carrying is if he didn't want them to figure out what it was just yet. Then there was something else that was off about that she couldn't as easily label. She had only seen the older Uchiha once before and that had been briefly but still, the way he held himself seemed wrong. The way he walked seemed… almost, familiar.

Then it clicked. Her eyes grew wide as she realized what, or better yet, who she was looking at. Relief, excitement, and utter happiness flooded over her as a smile spread across her face. She allowed her body to relax and in one smooth movement, reholstered her kunai ,which , naturally, caught the attention of those in her immediate area.

"Sakura-chan, what are you doing?" Naruto asked in a worried tone.

Sakura, ignoring the blonde, took a step toward the man who was now dangerously close to them.

"Took you long enough." She said softly. By now she had everyone's attention. Worried and confused looks were flying all around her as everyone was desperately trying to figure out what was going on. They had to admit that it almost looked like she was in leauge with him, but Haruno-san would never betray Konoha. Not after all the heartache she went through with the younger Uchiha.

Their supposed attackor responded to her remark by disappearing breifly from sight and reappearing only inches away from the pink haired medic. This suddend act caused many of the shinobi to give a shout of surprise and several of the younger ones even fainted from all the excitement. Now really what were the genin still doing here? Just the sight of an Akatsuki member was enough to make any genin faint with fright much less one popping up in front of one of their superiors and going "boo!"

Well he didn't exactly go "boo!" but it had the same effecct on everyone, but Sakura that is. Naruto immediately jumped to help her but was stopped when he tossed the bundle he had been carrying to the ground, blocking Naruto's way. Everyone except Sakura instinctly jumped back. When it didn't explode or cause mass chaos, they all peered catiously at it from a distance only to find the body of the man that, until a few seconds ago, they had thought to be attacking their beloved Konoha. In one simultaneous move, every head snapped up to find out who it really was that had appeared so omniously before their village. Let's just say the resulting shock left no jaw hinged.

There, nose to nose with Haruno Sakura, stood the one and only Uchiha Sasuke (They've actually considered cloning him and selling his clones for an outragous price to his rabid fan-girls in order to boost Konoha's depleted resources. Personally, I'm in line for a Gaara clone, but whatever floats your boat.)

"Like I said, it took you long enough." Sakura said with a cute pout.

"I was busy." Sasuke responded with his signature smirk before claiming Sakkura's lips in a kiss soo passionate that had Jiraiya been here, even he would have blushed.

As you can imagine, everyone was quite flabbergasted. Even Shikamaru's genius brain was more than a bit frazzled by this overload of … odd- for the lack of a better word,-information. After all it wasn't every day a village traitor waltzed up the gates with his dead brother, whom he more than likely killed, and started smooching with the girl whose heart he had broken years ago.

Even by the time Sasuke pulled back for some much needed oxygen, they still hadn't recovered, especially Naruto, who was currently sprawled on the ground twitching uncontrollably.

With a grunt Sasuke leaned down and picked up his brother's body once more and then, after lacing hands with Sakura, continued on into the village. Sakura followed wordlessly, the silliest grin in the history of… well, as far back as my memory goes- plastered all over her face. But can you blame her? She had just had the day and night kissed out of her by the man of her dreams (well, except for that one reaccuring dream of Lee, Naruto, Gai, and Kakashi dancing around in tutus to the Sugar Plum Fairy, but we won't go there).

They had gotten almost halfway through the village before anyone could put enough neurons together to react. And for once, it was actually Naruto who reacted first.

"TEME!" He shouted so loudly that it became known forever more as the shout that caused Kami-sama himself to fall out of bed in fright. Yeah, that's probably going come back and bite him in the arse. Because if Kami-sama doesn't get him, the shinobi who had been unfortunate enough to have been standing close by will.

When he shouted both Sasuke and Sakura instinctively moved to cover their ears which was hard to to seeing as 1. They were holding hands and 2. Sasuke was still carrying Itachi.

"Dobe" Sasuke grumbled angrily in response knowing good and well Naruto's "Sasuke senses" would make sure he heard him loud and clear.

"What do you expect?" Sakura asked. "We've had no idea where you've been for the past couple years and, as far as everyone else was concerned, you were never going to come back. An entrance like that was sure to cause general mayhem."

"Hn." Was all Sasuke had to say in response as he pulled her closer and continued on their way.

"You haven't changed much." Sakura observed dryly. Sasuke seemed to take this as a compliment and proceded to smirked his pretty little Uchiha face off.

"Don't act so pleased!" Sakura huffed and proceeded to punch Sasuke's arm playfully. Fortunately for Sasuke he had never been punched by Sakura before, whether playfully or not. Unfortunately for Sasuke, he was in no way prepared for the sheer power that even her lightest of tap contained and the always dignified Uchiha found himself trying desperately to stay on his feet which presented a comical picture for anyone watching. But thankfully, no one was or Sasuke would have made sure they wouldn't have lived to tell a soul.

"Sasuke!" Sakura cried as she rushed to help steady him. In doing so, Sakura inadvertantly graded a rather tender spot on Sasuke's side causing him to hiss as pain shot through his body.

"Sasuke, why didn't you tell me you were hurt?" Sakura asked. "How bad is it? Let me see."

"Not here Sakura." Sasuke said as he moved to continue.

"Well at least let me carry Itachi." Sakura said. Sasuke stopped short and gave her a "Are you crazy?" mixed with "I am a man, I know no pain." look.

"Sasuke." Sakura said sweetly. "Give. Me. The. Body. NOW."

Now Uchiha Sasuke had been in many a dangerous and all together frightening situations. Heck, he had lived with Orochimaru for almost three year, he was lucky to be sane! But never before in his oh-so-varied life had he know the fear that he felt that night as he was stared down by his beloved, kind, and caring Sakura with a look that threatened extreme physical and mental pain did he not comply with her every demand.

Things sure had changed around here.

Oh man, I out did myself here. I think this chapter was closer to the tone of Something to Look Forward to than the previous two. I just hope I can keep it up.

Please review! I love hearing what you think!

FrillingFreak