A.N.: Hey everyone,

So as promised this chapter is going to be packed with awesomeness! I was so excited to write this chapter and I hope that it is to your liking :)

I would also like to thank those for reviewing. It really means a lot to hear feedback from you guys. And I would also like to obviously thank everyone that is reading my story! It's always a pleasure to see the visitors count go up each week.

Well without any further ado, here is chapter 4! Enjoy!

EDITED: 23/11/14


Chapter Four: Cold as Stone


"A memory is what is left when something happens and does not completely unhappen."

~Edward de Bono


When Sakura opened her eyes, she was greeted with pitch black darkness. At first she thought she may have been dead. But it was the throbbing pain at the back of her head that told her otherwise. She was lying on what felt like stone; cold and extremely uncomfortable.

A memory came to her then.

A memory from three years ago.

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Start Memory:

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Sakura was running through the village, she had a terrible gut feeling that something was wrong. Before she knew where she was headed, she found herself at the main gates leading out of Konoha.

There she waited.

She hoped she was wrong. She prayed she was wrong! But she was determined to stay there all night if she had to, to make sure.

Then a person came into view, the very person she had hoped she would not see tonight.

Uchiha Sasuke.

As he got closer, she noticed he had a backpack. Her heart sunk. He told her to go home as he walked around her headed towards the gate. Her eyes welled up with tears, so she turned around and shouted anything and everything to make him stay. She even told him to take her with him. Soon, he vanished from her view.

He appeared behind her.

"Sakura. Thank you".

She couldn't believe his words. Sasuke had never said anything like that to her before. Especially because of his Uchiha pride.

But that moment was cut short as she felt a jab at the back of her neck. Her eyes widened in disbelief only just managing to say his name one last time.

She was woken up in the early hours of the morning by some jounin walking the road. She opened her eyes and noticed she was lying on a stone bench. For a second she wondered how and what she was doing there. Then the events of the night before flooded into her mind.

She sat up abruptly and shouted his name, but realisation hit her. It was now morning. She hung her head and cried.

For she knew Sasuke was long gone.

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End Memory.

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She shivered, trying to push the memory away. She couldn't believe how naïve she had been. She distinctly remembered something she had said to him that night.

'I may have friends and family, but if you were to leave… to me… to me it would be the same as being alone!'

Her mind went to Naruto and Kakashi-sensei. How could she have ever thought of leaving them?

The Sasuke that revenge had created, was cold and uncaring. How could she have ever thought that he would fill her heart with happiness? How could someone like him have made her feel wanted? And… loved?

As she shivered for the second time, tears formed again in her eyes. She didn't know where she was, but she had a feeling she was miles away from her beloved friends.

"How did it get like this?" she muttered softly to herself. She tried to think back to the last thing she could remember. But her memories seemed to be in pieces.

It was then that a certain chakra signature somewhere nearby came to her attention.

The pieces came together and she clenched her fists in anger.

Sasuke did this!

Of all the people to take her away from those she loved, she never expected him to do anything this… cold-hearted. But then again, she didn't know this Sasuke.

He was a stranger to her.

The Sasuke that she knew back then, the one that would protect her and his comrades, was gone.

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XXXXXX

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It had been two days since the jounin teams had been sent out and there hadn't been a word from them yet. Tsunade had been worrying so much that she had in fact kept up with all her paperwork. The wait for the news hit her the hardest, and she knew why, though she wouldn't say it to anyone.

This particular morning, Tsunade left all her Hokage duties behind in her office. There was somewhere else she needed to be today. She needed to seek comfort from two very special people; her little brother and Dan. She walked to their resting places to pray and seek some kind of hope.

'Ohayou. I'm sorry it's been such a long time. Being the Hokage, I never seem to get any time for myself. But I hope that I'm making the both of you proud that I am living your dream.

I actually came here to ask for your help. I know you both watch over me, but there is someone else… someone else who can live your dream. Naruto reminds me so much of the two of you. But I feel like something has gone wrong.

Please watch over him, Sakura, and Kakashi. Help them make it home!'

Tsunade was fighting the tears that were threatening to fall, but she did not let them. She stood and turned to start walking back to the Hokage Tower, muttering a thank you before she left.

Tsunade had not gotten far when an Anbu member appeared before her.

"Hokage-sama, we have received word that the jounin teams have successfully found Kakashi and Naruto, and are on their way back to the village as we speak. On the status of their condition, they have not given any details. Haruno Sakura was no-where to be seen."

Tsunade had listened carefully to the Anbu member, but their words had not given her as much joy as she had anticipated. Of course she was happy they had found and were bringing Naruto and Kakashi home! But why not mention their condition? And why wasn't Sakura with them?

Too many things were unclear to her. So she dismissed the Anbu member and headed straight for the Tower to try and save up as much of her strength as she could.

She feared the worst, but at least she would be ready for it!

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XXXXXX

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Sasuke had been keeping an eye on the dormant chakra over the two days.

He had not expected Sakura to be out for so long. Not that he was concerned about her welfare, it was more a matter that he was realising his decision for Jugo to take her with them was slowing them down.

During the two days, he had been making small trips with Suigetsu to small villages hoping to hear any word about Itachi's location. But as always, he heard nothing. At this point, even if he heard a rumour, it would be enough for him to go looking.

What little patience he had developed whilst being with Orochimaru had worn off and now he was being run by desperation.

It had been three years since he had left the village, he trained under Orochimaru, nearly became his next vessel, formed a team of his own and he still had not had his revenge!

Sasuke's attention then snapped back to the chakra he had been keeping an eye on. He noticed its' change. It started to flicker to life.

He did not know what to expect when his former team-mate confronted him. After all, it was the second time he had knocked her out now.

But I don't think that anything could have prepared him for what was yet to come.

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XXXXXX

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Sakura, now fully aware of her situation, was preparing herself. Preparing herself for the fight to get back home; where she belonged.

There was no way she was going to be kept against her will by him!

As she thought of him now, numerous words, all quite colourful, came to her mind.

'You will not make choices for me Sasuke! This time I will get my way!'

Sakura channeled chakra into her hands and smirked.

'Let's begin!'.

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XXXXXX

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Sasuke stood preparing himself for Sakura to emerge.

But all that did was the echoing sound of the earth cracking and crumbling around the nearby area.

He only just made it away in time. He glanced over at his team and saw that they had managed to avoid the attack also.

Then he saw a flash of pink headed in his direction.

He saw that she had channeled chakra into her fists and made a note to avoid getting hit by them.

As she swung her fist to hit him, he activated his sharingan and easily moved to the side, her fist travelling beside his head. He then saw her smirking and noted too late that she then moved her other fist which coincidentally collided with his shoulder.

He was sent flying backwards a fair way, but as he grounded himself, he looked at her. She seemed pleased with herself that she had managed to land a blow on him.

She would not be so lucky next time.

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XXXXXX

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The fight dragged out a bit longer, Sakura was exhausted, but she knew she had to keep going. She channelled more chakra into her fists and then lunged at Sasuke. He repeated the same side-step movement as before. But as her right arm went passed, he grabbed her left, he twisted it behind her back and was forced to the ground.

"I am surprised by you Sakura, to think that you could win against me." His tone was cold. "You have been aware of my plans and are now a liability."

Sakura froze for a moment. His plans? Liability? What was he talking about? He had never mentioned anything to her... had he?

"I don't know what you are talking about! Just let me go!" she shouted. Completely fed up with the way her so-called escape attempt was going.

She tried to break free of Sasuke's grasp, but that only led to his grip becoming tighter. She winced.

"Do not test me Sakura" His voice sounding impatient and laced with annoyance.

"You are just as cold as that bench you left me on!" She knew she should not have said it, but it seemed to be a reoccurring thing happening to her when she has been around him. She was pulled from her thoughts when Sasuke spoke again.

"Karin, knock her out". Sasuke still held Sakura down as Karin moved over to follow Sasuke's order.

"No! wait!" Desperation had hit her and it showed in her voice. "I have to go back to Naruto and Kakashi! I have to get them back to Konoha! I have to-" She didn't even get the words out as, yet again, she was knocked out.

She never thought she would say the words, but she hated Uchiha Sasuke. She hated him!

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A.N.: Well, well…. I hope that was interesting for you! It was definitely my favourite chapter so far to write!

Terminology:

Ohayou = Morning (not as formal as saying 'good morning')

Sensei = Teacher

Tsunade-sama = Lady Tsunade

This is not relevant at all… but how fast is this year going! I feel like I just can't keep up! Nearly September, next thing you know.. BAM! December and Christmas!

Anywhoo...

Next chapter contains Team Hebi and Sakura interaction!

So stay tuned for the next chapter! Reviews are greatly appreciated! :)