Chapter three.

Authors: Rejected-Devil and xEnchantedMarshmallowx

Disclaimer: WE DO NOT OWN NARUTO IN ANY WAY!

Sakura and Sasuke agreed to meet again in the forest later that week. Of course when she got back to the village, she received great punishment from both the Haruno and Hyuga clans. The wedding was rescheduled to be in three months time so that Sakura and Neji could get closer, since they had only had two weeks to prepare for the last one.

But meeting Sasuke again was going to be tricky when Sakura's parents forbade her to leave the village at all.

"But Naruto-"

"No buts Sakura! Your parents forbade you! Even from missions! I can't allow you to go anywhere even if I am Hokage!"

Sakura began to pout. How was she going to go see Sasuke now? It had already been three days since she found him.

"But I… I found him… I found him, Naruto," she whispered softly.

"What are you talking about? Found who?" Naruto questioned.

"Sasu…ke," she paused. "I found Sasuke. He told me to meet him again," Sakura explained. She didn't want to have to tell him, but it seemed to be the only way she could get to him.

"Sakura-san, Sasuke-san has been missing for six years. Orochimaru is bound to have taken over his body by now," Hinata spoke softly from the window in the Hokage's tower.

After Naruto had became the Hokage, Hiashi, Hinata's father, practically demanded that since Naruto loved her, that they were to marry. Of course Naruto agreed, and married his childhood crusher.

"Exactly," Naruto began to speak. "Sasuke's probably dead by now," he turned to Sakura.

"Come with me then. See for yourself. He's alive! I healed his wounds for God's sake, Naruto!" Sakura screamed.

Why would Naruto just give up on any hope that his best friend, and rival, was still alive? Even if there was proof?

"Sakura…" Naruto's tone was sad and full of concern. "I can't. You know that I would, but I can't. I have so much to do here as Hokage. Missions to be given out, papers to fill out, and I have a meeting with the elders-"

"Naruto-kun," Hinata cut him off. "I can deal with the missions and the paperwork. And you meeting with the elders isn't until dinner. Go."

Naruto was shocked at what his wife was saying, but agreed with a nod. He turned to Sakura.

"Go home. I'll come pick you up and explain things to your parents."

"Hai." And with that, Sakura's figure turned into a puff of smoke.

There was a knock at the front door. Sakura would have answered it if her mother wasn't already there, about to run some errands in the market.

"Hokage-sama! Oh what a pleasant surprise to see you. How may I help you this fine morning?" She ushered him in to the sitting room.

"Actually, Mrs. Haruno, I was wanting to speak to you about taking your daughter on a mission with me this afternoon," Naruto started.

Mrs. Haruno's face twisted at the mention of a mission. "No," she said flatly.

Naruto gave her a stern look. "May I remind you ma'am, that Sakura is eighteen now. She is capable of making her own decisions, without your consent."

There was a short silence as she processed his words. She gave him one last glare before she stormed out the door to the market.

"Naruto, you're stupid, and I have to clue why you're the Hokage, but I love you," Sakura exclaimed as she led him out of the village.

"Right, now Sakura, where is he?" he asked, his voice serious, and his jaw set.

She gave him a stern look, and told him that it took her a good running time and wondering in the forest to find him.

"So how are you going to find the way back?" Naruto asked her.

Sakura smiled at him, he let out a big sigh, and they began to run.

Neji stomped his way out of the Hyuga mansion, towards the Haruno household. His uncle was forcing him to apologize to them, and to speak to Sakura about a good date for the wedding.

He stepped up to the door, knocked twice, took a step back, and shoved his hands in his pockets. Soon after, Mrs. Haruno appeared on the other side of the door frame.

"Ah, it's good to see you Neji. How are you?" she spoke energetically with a smile on her face.

"I'm good. I was actually hoping to speak with Sakura," he said, more as a question than an anwer.

Mrs. Haruno's smile faded as she looked to her left. "The Hokage came and said that she had an important mission to attend to, so they left. It was probably about two hours ago, and I have no clue how long they'll be gone."

Neji grunted and nodded his head. "I see."

Sakura let out a surprised scream as she spotted the body laying on the ground. She ran towards it, stopping in the pool of blood that surrounded it.

Moving the raven black hair on his head, she barely detected breathing and a heartbeat.

Naruto was soon at her side, asking what she needed him to do.

"I don't know," she started to stutter. "He must have bled out."

"Sakura, what do you need to do?" Naruto asked. "What exactly did you heal on him last time?"

"I," she paused." I healed something in his chest. I think it was his heart."

Sakura frantically ran her hands over Sasuke's body, checking to see what made him like this. When her hand ran over his head, she stopped.

"Naruto," she said, her voice shaky. "Naruto, his chakra. It doesn't feel right."

Naruto just looked at her with a questionable gaze.

"He said something last time; something about being an experiment gone wrong."