Disclaimer: Yeah, I'm still waiting till the day I can finally own Naruto. Which is like…never?

Shoutout to: ChoppingBoard, random716 and RiriaKazeKage for your lovely reviews and those who had favourite and follow this story.

Author's Notes: I'm sorry with the late update I was busy with writing a drama script and exam. I hope to complete this story by this year. Please do ignore the crappy, sappy title. I might change it, at least until I have an interesting title. I apologize first hand if there is grammar and spelling mistakes. I tend to do that sometimes coz I'm only human ~~~

Chapter Three

Three figures, two males and a female, stood in the midst of ruins. The effects of the battle between two brothers. The younger one driven into anger, revenge, betrayal while the older brother held an unimaginable burden upon his shoulders.

"This was the last place they've seen him," the taller brute informed his two companions.

The water user cursed loudly. They should have followed him or this would not have happened. They needed to track down their leader before it was too late. "Karin, Juugo," he said in a serious tone. "As much as it pains me to say this but we need help from him."

"Why him?" the redheaded Karin questioned. They knew who he was talking about. They were once his disciple after all.

"What other choice do we have?"

Uchiha Sasuke sat quietly with a book opened in front of him. The seal on his forehead was burning ever since he woke up after his encounter with his old sensei and the Hyuuga Heiress a few days before. He was trying to soak up as many information as he can like a sponge with the help of his Kekkei Genkai – or known as sharingan. His eyes were stained by the excessive use and the seal was burning like hell.

He however did not cover it the way the Hyuuga prodigy did but instead he left his long bangs to cover it. He stubbornly refused to wear the forehead protector. He preferred being a nomad rather than stay in the village.

Rubbing his temples, he closed the book with a frustrated groan. He didn't know how long he had been in the library but it felt like he had been there for days. Well at least the Hokage kept her end of the deal.

His ancestors must be rolling in their graves for associating with a Senju.

The library was – and still is – a restricted area. Only the Hokage and few of Konoha higher-ups were allowed to enter. Sasuke was the exception to the rule. He was free to choose any time of the day to enter. One thing he was not allowed to do is: bring out any of the scrolls or books out. The library was actually smaller than he had expected and it was quite organized to say at least.

He left the scrolls and books he skimmed through on the table, not bothering to return to its original place because he knew that it will still be there the next time he spends his time in the library. Pushing the book away, he stood up and exited the Hokage tower.

The weather wasn't really helping him either. It was a little too hot for him. What made things worse was his clothes, his dark ankle-length pants and the standard dark high-collar shirt with the Uchiha emblem on his back.

A colour which absorbs heat the most.

"Teme! You came!"

Sasuke blinked as he regained his surroundings. The hyperactive blond bounding towards him with a smile stretching on his face. He could have sworn he just passed the Academy a few seconds ago. And now, he's at the training ground?! Did he really space out that long?

"I wouldn't want to miss the chance in kicking your ass," he smirked, still feeling lightheaded. It was true though. A few days ago, Naruto had practically begged – can you believe it? He actually begged! – him for a spar because he was tired of facing this – Sai person.

He was intrigued in meeting this Sai. He might actually be entertaining in his own twisted way.

Naruto scowled and muttered something unintelligible.

The Uchiha simply ignored him and looked passed the dobe's shoulder. Under a huge shady tree stood two figures, waiting for them. Even at the distance, he recognized the two figures. Who wouldn't recognize the Godaime's apprentice and the shy and timid Hyuuga Heiress – though he wasn't sure if he could still call her shy and timid.

Only someone who is a fool and blind might not recognize them – or probably a foreigner.

"Didn't you say there's only going to be the two of us," Sasuke remarked, jerking his head with the slightest movement towards the two kunoichi. "Not four."

Naruto scratched his whiskered his cheek and smiled sheepishly. "I kinda forget to tell you that other day."

"Did it not occur to you that you could have told me sooner?" Sasuke was already fuming at this point.

"It slipped out of my mind!" the blond exclaimed. "You wouldn't have agreed otherwise. And Hinata-chan's teammate went for a mission along with Sai. So, I thought, what's the harm inviting her along to train with us…"

"Hn." You're basically asking me to recall unwanted memories I had with her.

Training sure was going to be interesting.

Hyuuga Hinata was not a coward. She didn't particularly like to fight – partly because she was training to become a medic-nin. Mainly, she thinks that life is precious and it should not be thrown away casually. But if she were to engage in a fight, she will stand her ground and fight to protect her love ones.

But she never felt as cowardly as this.

If she had known that he was going to be there, she would have declined Naruto's offer. Even though she had grown out of her crushing-on-Naruto state, her heart held a soft spot for him.

Hinata was having a conversation with Naruto and Sakura when she saw Naruto's relieved and happy look on his face. He bounded after him and glanced at the Uchiha before turning her gaze away. After days of avoiding him, she almost believed herself that the Uchiha did not stayed in Konoha. Five years of his absences proved as much.

She could not deny that she felt something when he left the village after he had given her that necklace. Her hand flew to her chest where the necklace had laid, only to feel the absences of the cold metal. Oh right, she had returned the necklace back to him.

Over the years, she could only think herself as foolish to cling to an empty promise. It was almost as embarrassing as stalking – correction, followed Naruto when she was in her gennin years. Almost.

Looking at the man at the moment, she realized that the small boy had grown into a man who had matured through the years. His cheeks had grown out of that baby fat making his cheekbones angular. His chin-length bangs framing his aristocratic features. The black seal peeking from his hair hanging over his forehead.

Her face grew warm as she begins describing him in her head. She covered both her warm cheeks and shook her head slightly, embarrassed of her thoughts.

"Hinata-chan?" she looked up to see Sakura with a concerned look attached to her face. "Are you alright?"

"I'm f-fine," she smiled as she dropped her hands. "I-Its just a little h-hot today."

Her blush grew darker as she fell into a stuttering mess. She should have a better control that this!

As Sakura was about to open her mouth, she was interrupted by Naruto. "Sakura-chan! Hinata-chan!" he yelled, waving an arm. "Teme agreed to train with us."

Both the kunoichi giggled as the two best friends made their way to the tree. The blond shinobi jumped into a conversation – or discussing she wasn't sure – with Sakura leaving Hinata with the man who she was avoiding.

The two fell into an uncomfortable silence that stretched long and thick.

"You're avoiding me," he said suddenly. Hinata was quite startled to hear him speak for the first time.

"I am not avoiding you," she lied.

"You're lying," he countered. "I know you when you're lying, Hinata."

"Believe whatever you want." And the conversation ended just like that.

Uchiha Itachi walked through the streets of Kohona to his home, a mission scroll in hand. Although he was tired at the moment, he didn't let it show on his face. The due date for his plans was getting nearer as each hour passed. He knew that Shisui had another plan brewing in his mind. He knew that look. That faraway look on his face. Who was he kidding? How long have he known Shisui?

"Itachi!"

His mind reeled back to reality as he heard someone calling out his name. It was Inuzuka Hana, his…friend. She jogged towards him, her face flushed and her constant canine companions trailing behind her.

One might think it's a bit odd to an Inuzuka and an Uchiha interact in such manner without a purpose. They only interacted if it was about clan matters, nothing more.

His lips lifted up in a small smile. "Hana," he greeted.

"It's been a while since I've seen you," she said. "Are you free at the moment?"

"Not quite."

"If its paperwork you can do it later," she said sternly, cocking her hips. "C'mon! I'll treat you some dango! Don't be such a stick in the mud."

The Uchiha heir paused, debating if he should follow along. There was something in her tone that made him wanting to turn away from her and continue his journey but curiosity got the better of him.

"Alright."

Hana was beaming, grinning. They settled to a nearby dango shop and placed their order. She was rather quiet for an Inuzuka. A typical Inuzuka may be loud and obnoxious but it doesn't mean they are ignorant of their surroundings. In fact they are very observant but they tend to ignore it – unless they deemed necessary.

The brown haired chuunin was considered as one, wearing her heart on her sleeves. Basically an opposite of the Uchiha. She was twiddling with her thumb nervously then stopped. She lifted her gaze to the silent Uchiha. "I know about the coup," Hana started, her voice low and bore no emotions on her face. "And I know you are involved in it somehow."

"How did you –" he broke off abruptly and muttered a single name. "Shisui."

"You are going to end up as a traitor to the village!" she accused. "Itachi, they are your flesh and blood. You can't just kill them. They are your family. What about Sasuke? Don't you care about him?"

He glared at her sharply. "I don't know what you are talking about."

"Ita –"

"Back off, Inuzuka. It is none of your business."

Dark eyes snapped open from her slumber. She sat up, pushing her hair away from her face. She did not know why she remembered that particular memory. It was the first time she heard him call her by her family name. It sounded so foreign to her coming out from his mouth. Even in the past he only called her by her single name.

It was also the last time she had seen him.

The next few days after the incident, she went to the Hokage Tower after she was summoned by the Sandaime. "By the time we arrived, Itachi was gone," she heard a male voice reported to the Hokage as she approached the door. She did felt bad for eavesdropping on them. "He's the only survivor; there was no sign of anyone else."

It took her a few minutes to digest the information. She took a few deep breaths and regained her composure as she opened the door.

Hana had went to the Uchiha burial held the next day, out of respect – and most of the respected clans sent their representatives. She had watched from a far as Itachi's brother, Sasuke kneeled on the dirty ground after the crowd had dispersed.

She watched as the girl – the Hyuuga heiress, she found out later that day – pulled Sasuke in an embrace. The devastated boy returned her embrace as he cried for his dead and broken family.

Next on Never Alone, Ever Again…

"Just be careful around the Uchiha, alright?"

"That's Tomato-chan."

"I am going to tell Mikoto-san that you have a girlfriend, Sasuke."

"I am sorry, Hinata."

"Make sure no shinobi leaves and enters the village."

Author's End Notes: I just want to make things clear that this story contains: SasuHina, NaruSaku, NejiTen, ItaHana (U. Itachi x I. Hana), ShikaTema (a tiny bit) and SaiIno (hints of it)