A/N: (grins) Guess what? 'Yes' votes won (fair and square, hands down), and now I've written a new chapter! (beams, and claps hands together with excitement) I can't wait to get truly started with this!

BUT, before going on with the story… My goodness, thank you so much for those absolutely amazing reviews! (HUGS, and showers you with treats of all kinds) You guys seriously know how to boost an author's inspiration. So THANK YOU! (hugs again) As always, responses to anonymous reviews can be found from underneath the chappy.

But now, because there's no point in stalling any further… Let's rock! (gulps thickly) I REALLY hope ya'll enjoy the ride.


CHAPTER 1 – The Meeting of Strangers


Ten Months Later


That day, sun was shining on Konoha for the first time in weeks. It was a very beautiful day of spring, and everyone in Konoha seemed to be in high spirits.

Well, almost everyone.

Weighed down by the full amount of the forty-eight hours she'd been up, Sakura groaned loudly and rubbed her face with one hand while approaching an aparment she knew better than well. From afar, she saw Shikamaru leaning against the building's wall deep in though, a cigarette grit firmly between his teeth.

She didn't have the energy for any greetings, so she approached the situation bluntly. "Is he inside?"

The brunet nodded stiffly, rubbing his most likely sore neck with a frown. "Yeah. And moody as hell – he's annoying and troublesome when he gets like that." With that the boy tossed away his cigarrete, stomped it and started to walk away. "I really hope you have more luck than I did."

She felt a sharp stab inside. I hope so, too… "See you later."

Shikamaru responded with a nod and a small wave of hand. They didn't need any words to understand each other.

Shikamaru had been amongst those who'd accepted the inevitable when it came to Sasuke. There were few people Naruto trusted these days.

Behind the door she took a long moment to get herself composed, to plan the moves and words she'd need inside, because she'd never be able to make such rational decisions face to face with Naruto. Then, very slowly – cautiously – she pushed the door open.

Naruto was inside the surprisingly shadowy apartment, cussing loudly every now and then while trying to tend to his wounds the best as he could. He didn't have a shirt on, so she saw each new cut and scrape much too clearly.

In the past, she would've given him an earfull for being so reckless. Now, she just didn't have the will and energy. Besides, he never listened to her these days.

It was around then he noticed her, and gave a nod to acknowledge her. "Hey."

She snorted, folding her arms. "You spend two months on a high ranked mission, and that's the best you can do when coming back home?"

Naruto looked away, trying to grin and failing. "'Sorry. I'm just tired."

She nodded, not really believing in him, then noticed a particularly nasty cut on his shoulder. Her mind getting lost on the good old days, she approached to give it a look. "Let me take care of that, will you?"

She touched his skin – and in a matter of seconds wished she hadn't. Because his body tensed up completely, and he moved away so sharply that she could only blink. A bit later he tried to cover it all with a grin, but she saw right through it. "Heh, 'sorry. I'm just a bit jumpy."

Somehow that tiny moment summed up exactly what they'd become during the past year.

Once upon a time they'd been teammates, comrades, friends – they'd relied their lives into each other's hands. Now Naruto didn't even trust her enough to let her clean up his injury. And that hurt her almost as much as watching the person Sasuke had turned into every day.

Perhaps she was being selfish, but she couldn't take that burden anymore – not on top of the one she carried every day. That's why she decided to speak out. "Naruto… There's something I want to show you", she said in a quiet voice that wasn't really hers.

He looked at her with a frown. "What's wrong? You're creeping me out here."

She took a deep breath, shaking so badly that it was getting difficult to hide from Naruto. "Just… Come with me." Then, as an afterthought, she added with a wrinkled nose. "But first, take a shower and find some clean clothes. Because you stink."


Naruto was confused, perhaps even hesitant, as he followed Sakura down a path that led them through the forest. "Where are you taking me?"

It took a long time before Sakura spoke, not peering over her shoulder to look at him. "Sixteen months ago… I did something. Something I'll probably never forgive myself for. So far I've fought to hide it, but… Things aren't getting better – you aren't getting any better. And… And I think you deserve to know the truth."

He frowned, feeling very cold all of a sudden. "The truth about what? What the heck is going on?"

Just then they stopped before a barely standing yet strangely cozy hut that'd been abandoned under the forest's mercy.

Sakura turned towards him slowly, her eyes filled with something close to fear. "I… I want you to go inside, Naruto. But before you do… Remember that you could never hate me for this more than I hate myself."


Inside, Sasuke was almost dozing off while reading a book Sakura had brought him some days earlier. Reading was one of his few priviledges in this lonely, desolate place.

Just then his peace was disturbed by the sound of a door opening.

He turned his gaze with a frown, not recognizing these steps as Sakura's. He blinked twice when finding a boy of his age with blond hair and blue eyes.

Had Sakura… brought a visitor?

It was around then he realized just how off and shallow the other boy's breathing sounded. Slightly confused, he looked into those blue eyes and was almost startled by how much he found. So much joy, shock, fear, confusion…

And then there was a near-wheeze that shuddered from tightly locked back emotions. "Sasuke…!"

He shivered a little at this, and felt his eyes widen a little as hope lit up inside him. "Do you know me?" Sakura never gave him any answers to his past. Maybe this was his chance.

He wondered what he'd said wrong, because those words made the blond emit a choked, sob-like sound. One tear traveled down the boy's cheek, most likely unnoticed by the other.

He swallowed thickly, feeling uncomfortable and confused by such a display of emotions. "Did I say something wrong?"

The blond's lips opened several times, but absolutely no sound came. And then, faster than he could blink, the boy spun around and started to dash away from him, right towards the hut's door like it'd been a sanctuary of some sort.

He couldn't understand why watching the boy run away from him made him feel like something had been ripped right out of his chest.


Sakura knew to expect something far from pleasant when she heard the sound of the hut's door being slammed shut, followed by the unmistakable sounds of someone throwing up loudly. Swallowing thickly, she followed the noise although she wouldn't have wanted to.

Shit…!

She found a badly shaking, incredibly pale Naruto leaning against the hut's wall, wiping the last remnants of vomit from the corners of his mouth with a trembling hand. His eyes were like those of a wild animal's, filled with terror, rage and unshed tears.

Her first instinct was to go and hug him, but she kept her distance, not trusting his reactions at the moment. "Naruto…?"

"What the fuck did they do to him?" Naruto asked, sounding as lost and heartbroken as a child.

She swallowed thickly, wondering how in the world she'd be able to explain this. "His…" She cleared her throat. "It's certain that he'll never be the same again. His memory was wiped away by a secret technique." She took a deep breath before forcing out the rest. "Tsunade taught me how to do it. It was the only way to save his life, and to give him freedom."

At first Naruto was terrifyingly still for a long, frozen moment. Then, very slowly, the boy's blue eyes rose to meet hers. There was so much anger and disappointment that it made her chest hurt. "How… How could you do that to him?" the blond demanded in a choked, wet tone. Then – anger taking over – the boy spoke much louder, would've screamed if he hadn't felt so choked. "You loved him, back then – I thought you considered him a friend! How could you do this to him?!"

Her eyes flashed as a twinge of pain traveled through her. It hurt to face those accusations she'd been torturing herself with from someone else. "There was no other choice, Naruto. I… I would've never done this if there had been – you have to believe me!"

-

A heavy feeling sitting on his chest, Naruto looked away. On the ground a big, fat spider was speeding towards the shadow. "I don't know what to believe anymore."

Sakura's voice was already softer, calmer. "Start with believing in Sasuke. Because he's right there waiting for you – and he needs you a lot right now." For the first time since that day's disastrous events they truly met each other's eyes, looking like two tired war veterans although they were teens. "Sasuke's stil alive, Naruto. He's not exactly the same, but he's still here. So go to him – don't lose him again."

He nodded slowly, looking towards the hut. He knew what he should've done. But he wasn't sure at all if he was ready for the blow.

His steps ridiculously slow and hesitant, he entered the hut as though approaching his most dangerous enemy. Inside, Sasuke was sitting at a table, staring out the window deep in thought. For just a couple of moments, he could've sworn he was looking at the old Sasuke; the one he'd known, missed and…

But then the image disappeared. The other boy turned his gaze, and he met a pair of onyx eyes he was still fighting to get used to. Sasuke – as he forced himself to call this stranger – looked at him with a slight frown. "Are you alright?"

He nodded a little, feeling dazed. "Yeah. I'm… just fine."

The raven nodded slowly, as though not entirely sure if he should believe him. The silence between them stretched, turned awkward.

It'd never been silent with his Sasuke, he mused darkly although he hated himself for the thought.

Sasuke's voice snatched him back to the present. "Were we… friends, back then? Or were we enemies?" The boy was looking at him, clearly trying to find something. "Because… You looked upset when you saw me."

It was then he truly looked at Sasuke for the first time, and understood just how much the other boy had grown up although he looked almost exactly the same. Sasuke was still pale, still had the same facial features and slender form. There were only three differences. The Uchiha's hair was now longer, making him look creepily lot like Itachi, and he had scars, like burnmarks, on both sides of his forehead that made him see red for a moment, most likely left by Sakura's technique. The biggest difference, however, was in the boy's eyes. Before, they'd been hard and filled with hatred. Now they were much softer, uncertain and confused, nearly scared – obviously those of a badly lost person. As long as he'd known Sasuke, the boy had been more or less astray. Now, those eyes were begging him for help and reassurance.

He felt like kicking himself. If he found this confusing, he couldn't even imagine what Sasuke must've felt like, not knowing anything. "We were friends. Best friends", he replied rather softly, without a beat's hesitation; that was the clean version of it, the best he could come up with. He tried to smile despite the storm raging inside. "I'm sorry I ran out like that. I just… I got confused." He didn't feel like adding that he'd thought the boy was dead – the situation was already overwhelming enough. He offered his hand, not entirely sure what he was reaching out for. "I'm Naruto. Naruto Uzumaki."

Sasuke looked hesitant at first, but eventually the doubt disappeared and the raven accepted his hand with a slight, cautious smile he'd never seen before. "I'm Sasuke."

As soon as their hands touched, he felt something inside him slide out of place and crash together again at the exact same time. And before he knew it, he'd pulled Sasuke into a tight, almost desperate embrace and buried his face into the raven's shoulder.

He wasn't sure which one was worse – having thought Sasuke was dead or this. But he wasn't going to give up.

He'd sworn to bring Sasuke back. And there was no way he'd lose the Uchiha all over again.

-

Sasuke found himself shivering badly as Naruto held him in a warm, suffocatingly tight embrace. His breathing became so shallow that he started to feel dizzy while he tensed up completely.

This boy… cared about him, so much that he could feel it with absolutely every single cell of his body. From the way Naruto held him, he got the picture that the boy was holding his whole world in his arms. And that terrified him, much more than the life he couldn't remember and Sakura wouldn't tell him a thing about.

Because Naruto was obviously mistaking him for someone he just couldn't be, not anymore – he just wasn't that person the boy considered so very precious. And he didn't dare to even think what'd happen when the blond would finally figure that out.


TBC, or…?


A/N: Oh dear… Looks like there's quite a bit of trouble incoming, ne? (gulps)

So… How was it – any good? PLEASE, do let me know if ya guys want to read another chappy or not – it'd mean more than you could ever imagine to me! (gives HUGE puppy's eyes)

IN THE NEXT ONE would be: When Sasuke moves, he's faced with the village's coldness – and weighed down by Naruto's expectations. In the meantime, Naruto can't let go of the old Sasuke, and he's desperate to help the Uchiha remember.

Until next time, folks – with whichever story that shall be!

And, of course… HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU!


jfkfjk: I'm absolutely thrilled and flattered to hear that you're into this already! (beams)

Uh-huh, Naruto's reaction may be a fiery one! (sweatdrops) Poor thing.

Gigantic thank yous for the review!
I really hope ya'll enjoy the next one as well.

-

Leah: And there shall be a new update! (grins)

Huge thank yous for the review!
'Hope ya'll be sticking around for more.

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MultiplePersonalityDisorder: Ah, you can't even imagine how happy I am to hear that you enjoyed the first bit that much! (beams, and hugs)

(chuckles) After such persuasion, how could I not write another chapter…?

Colossal thank yous for the review!

I really hope ya'll be just as pleased with the next one.

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teh-f43ry-pwnz: HOORAY! I'm so happy to hear you liked it, twist and all. (beams)

Enormous thank yous for the review!
'Hope ya'll be staying tuned.

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Wawa: Ah, I'm thrilled to hear that you've enjoyed the story thus far! (beams)

Poor Naruto indeed, ne? Kept in the dark while Sakura's the only one around Sasuke. (pouts, and hugs the poor thing)

Monumental thank yous for the review!

I truly hope ya'll enjoy the next one as much.