Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Stand by Me

3

Uzumaki Naruto was sitting around the Third Division's campfire when the news reached his ears.

Sasuke Uchiha had shattered the Masked Man's Mask.

And he wasn't quite sure how he was supposed to feel about it.

He had been the first one to crack Tobi's mask, with Killer Bee's help of course, but his wayward friend had done more damage him… Also, this meant Sasuke had turned on 'Madara'.

Was he on their side now? This was what the blond hoped was true.

But if he wasn't on their side… and he wasn't with Akatsuki… What the hell was he doing?

The news of Sasuke's most recent betrayal was spreading through the camp like wild fire and the reactions varied drastically. Many shinobi were relieved that such a power house like the youngest Uchiha was fighting against their enemy.

Because let's face it; the Allied Forces were loosing. Badly.

However, Naruto noticed a group of Jonin snorting at the recent developments. Saying things like ' That bastard Uchiha doesn't have a loyal bone in his body. I guarantee he'll be building up his own army to counter us and Akatsuki. Then we'll have no chance.'

And the nine-tails jinchuriki snarled at them and started to say: " That's not true! Sasuke would never…!"

And his defiant voice would trail off because he wasn't sure he knew Sasuke anymore. His reluctant best friend from Team 7 had become almost unrecognisable to him.

And this scared Naruto more than anything else.

So when Kakashi, the head of the Third Division, nodded in his direction across the fire with an unreadable expression on his face: Naruto knew what he had to do.

Heart burning with adrenaline, hope and a slight tinge of doubt, he packed a small bag of belongings and restocked his weapons and set of to find the traitorous man he called a brother.

Haruno Sakura didn't hear the news.

No, she found it instead.

Lying broken, bloody and unconscious in the shadows of the trees, about 10 miles from Konoha, Sasuke Uchiha didn't even sense her presence approach him.

She couldn't tell who it was at first. The amount of blood covering his face prevented her from identifying him immediately. His shirt was gone and his hair was matted with red. He was dying; and Sakura didn't even realise who it was she had rushed to and started healing.

It wasn't until she had got his chakra up to a stable level did she recognise the man next to her.

His chakra was thick, sticky and dark. Oh so dark.

And Sakura could never forget that terrible chakra. The one that haunted her nightmares and invaded her thoughts frequently. Because this was the very essence of the man she had claimed to love, tried to kill and wanted desperately to forget.

But was unable to because of that tugging in her soul. The possessed butterflies in her stomach any time someone mentioned his name. She would never again deny her love for him, but she had sworn to let him go. Sakura Haruno refused to stay shattered because this man, this boy now dying in her lap, had broken her young, naïve heart. She was stronger than that.

Grabbing a damp cloth from her medical kit, she carefully wiped the blood from his face.

His injuries had been horrific. It was a wonder he was still in one piece to be honest.

Staring down at his face, Sakura wondered what had happened to him. Had he been fighting Naruto? Kakashi, even? Were they alright? Did he kill them? Because he could do that, couldn't he? He had promised he would and then-

All her thoughts stuttered to a standstill as Uchiha Sasuke reached a shaking hand out to grab her wrist, onyx eyes wide open, and whispered a single word that sent a shiver down the pinkettes' spine.

"Sakura."

A/N- Did I promise explanations? I did? Well I lied and I apologise sincerely for the confusion and lack of explanation so far. Just remember: 'Explanations come to those who wait.' Or something like that… Anyway, REVIEW, PLEASE REVIEW! WHAT YOU LIKE AND DON'T LIKE, WHAT YOU HAD FOR DINNER, I DON'T KNOW! JUST PLEASE REVIEW! I feel unloved… Though Alerters and Favouritors are Awesome Sauce and make me smile, like a whole lot.