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- I do not own Naruto

Chapter 4

Tension

Sasuke stared silently at his once teammate. She was nothing like he expected. Her hair was still short and pink, but she had matured. The skinny fan-girl had been replaced with a toned and breathtakingly beautiful woman.

Sakura caught his brief glimpse, and a blush crept to her cheeks. 'Damn,' she thought, 'this is more awkward than I hoped.'

Sasuke noticed her blush and smirked. 'So, she still hasn't gotten over her silly crush? How annoying.'

Sakura saw his smirk, and her embarrassment disappeared instantly. "Don't you dare smirk at me Uchiha. I seem to remember you falling unconscious."

Sasuke's smirk turned into an icy glare. Of course he remembered. He couldn't stop thinking about how his weak, no….once weak teammate not only screwed up his chakra flow, but instigated his plunge into unconsciousness. He was, to say the least, pissed. Not only that, but Sasuke was still in shock from learning that she had indeed been the ANBU captain with the attitude.

"I healed that pretty little cut I gave you across your chest as well. No need to thank me. Oh, and I'm sure you're familiar with the chakra bands placed around your wrist. Just the slightest chakra output from you will bounce off of the chakra bands back into your body, causing immense pain," she stated with negligence.

"Hn…" he replied, not interested in the least. He assumed she had healed her wounds as well because he didn't see the gash on her arm any longer. She was still bruised and covered in little scratches, but that was to be expected.

Sakura knew the chakra bands wouldn't hold him. She was actually timing him to see if he could beat the record, excluding his unconscious state. "I want an answer from you," Sakura rushed.

Sasuke's head lifted, looking her in the eyes once again.

"Will you answer at least one…?" she asked.

Sasuke nodded, face expressionless. He was curious.

"Who are you here to kill?"

He was taken aback by her question. He had been expecting her to ask why he was here or why had he left her on the bench or if he had come home. She had been surprisingly direct. "Why do you think I'm here to kill someone Sakura?"

A cold shiver ran down her back. It had been a long time since she heard him say her name. "I am not the innocent teammate you left on a bench all those years ago. You've killed Orochimaru and your brother. You've come to Konoha with your team, which concludes you're either here for information or assassination. However, your haughty attempt to invade the village lacks stealth, which means you wanted us to know you were here. I assume you were here to kill someone. Who?"

Dumbfounded, Sasuke examined the Sakura he no longer knew. She didn't whimper or shy away, but spoke her mind and was shockingly clever. He had greatly underestimated her, and he vowed not to let it happen again. He didn't like surprises.

"The elders," he declared.

Sakura's emerald eyes grew wide with disbelief. He was here to kill the elders, yet he allowed himself to be captured.

Before she had time think further, Sasuke slipped from his chakra bonds and threw her aggressively against the wall, pinning her there. Their faces were close as he bent to her level.

"Don't make a sound Sakura. I have no qualms about killing you or your friend right outside," he whispered in her ear.

Sakura's breathing hitched.

"Sakura-san," Toshio shouted through the door, concern clear in his deep voice, "is everything alright?"

Without permission, Sakura replied, "yes, every things fine Toshio-kun. I'm just clumsy and tripped."

Sakura didn't catch how Sasuke's glare enhanced when she addressed Toshio.

"Tell me Uchiha. Do you plan on extending your hate to the villagers, to Tsunade-sama? How many more people will suffer because of your revenge? Can't you see that it's a poison that doesn't stop unless you do? Please Sasuke…." Tears burned her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.

For once in his life, Sasuke was tempted to forget his hate and move on. In that moment of temptation, Sasuke knew that he could never stop the cycle, he didn't want to.

Emotionless, he uttered, "Enough, this is who I am, what I've worked so hard for. You don't understand. How could you? Waste your tears on someone else, Sakura."

"So that's it? You allowed yourself to be captured so the elders would think they are safe. Then, when they are least expecting it, you go and murder them in their beds. How cruel. I see now that you haven't killed Orochimaru. You've become him. History is repeating itself," she whispered.

Sasuke listened quietly. She connected the dots in a way he never had. He didn't like being measured up to that snake or the fact that he was following in his footsteps.

Sakura winced as more pressure was applied to her arms.

'She's wrong,' Sasuke told himself. 'Orochimaru killed for pleasure. I'm killing for revenge.'

Sakura could see the fight raging on inside Sasuke's mind. 'Has he truly never thought of this before,' she wondered.

"Do you not see the comparison? You both abandoned your village, your morals, and the people who cared for you. Both killing for revenge…"

Sasuke drew a kunai from her own pouch, holding it against her neck. "You're wasting my time Sakura. Tell me what I need to know," he threatened.

Silence filled the room. Sakura just stared into his obsidian eyes. She would never betray her village. Never.

A trickle of blood fell as the kunai was pressed further against her neck. Sakura glared at the man before her. He was truly a fool if he thought she would tell him.

"Naruto and Hinata have been dating. They just found out today their expecting twins. Naruto has also been chosen to become the next Hokage, though he hasn't been told yet. Neji and TenTen have been dating as well, and plan to marry…" Sakura continued rambling, not knowing what else to do.

Sasuke became annoyed by her banter, but listened nonetheless. 'Nartuto and the Hyuuga heiress…expecting? And Naruto was to become Hokage?'

Her words wrapped around Sasuke like a warm blanket. Why she was telling him these things, he didn't know. Things had changed so much since he left, but they had turned out well. Naruto was happy and becoming Hokage as well as a father. Sakura was….stronger.

His curiosity was piqued, which troubled him. He wasn't supposed to care about these people anymore. Emotions were useless to him.

Sasuke applied more pressure to the kunai poised at Sakura's neck, interrupting her rant. Another few drops of blood glided down her neck. Her glare intensified.

"You know I won't betray Konoha…," she whispered harshly, but was cut off when the man before her leaned in closer. They were less than an inch away and Sasuke's eyes spinning red.

"How foolish you are Sakura," he purred.

Sakura held her breath. She felt as the kunai was withdrawn from against her neck. She released her breath, slowly.

"I know the feelings you've always held for me, you told me yourself."

"You're right, there was a time when I loved you, but that was long ago. I was a stupid girl who didn't know any better. I am no longer that same, naïve girl!" she exclaimed.

Sasuke decided to test her words. They were almost touching. Sasuke held her gaze with a smirk on his face. They could both hear Sakura's heart beating.

Sakura's jade orbs widened. She nervously licked her lips.

In that same instant, Sasuke made the mistake of glancing down at her mouth, and saw her tongue rake over her ripe lips. A hunger he had never felt before rose deep inside him. Before he realized what he was doing, Sasuke crushed his mouth to hers.

Taken by surprise, Sakura hesitated. However, before she could stop herself, she was returning his heated kiss.

How long it lasted, neither knew, but Sakura pulled away, panting softly. Sasuke was breathing heavily as well. Embarrassed, she couldn't look him in the eye. Sasuke smirked and gently lifted her chin.

"Liar," he stated arrogantly.

She still wouldn't meet his eyes, looking at his shoulder. She knew he hadn't meant the kiss romantically, but as a weapon against her. That still didn't lessen the embarrassment of how she had responded.

Without warning, Sakura raised her hand to strike him. Sasuke easily intercepted her attack. Sakura knew that he was faster than her and had anticipated his block. Her knee made contact with Sasuke's abdomen. He was sent through the wall of the hospital, and fell two stories, landing hard.

Sakura now wore her own smile as the door to the room crashed open to reveal Toshio. It only took him a few seconds to realize what had happened. Sakura's face was flushed, little cracks in the wall behind her, and the man sized hole through the wall all gave him his answer. Sasuke had pissed her off.

A furious Sasuke jumped back into the room through the hole. Sakura's smile grew. "You see Uchiha, I'm not the weakling you left behind. And I'm sure as hell no damn fan girl," she yelled.

Sasuke glowered at her, unsure of his next move. Should he go for the elders, or stay and fight Sakura? 'No, I can't take the chance that she'll knock me out again and be delayed,' he thought. Sasuke ran, as much as it wounded his pride. He came here for the elders and there was no way they were going to escape his grasp.

"Dammit! Toshio, go report. Tell Tsunade he's after the elders. I'll go and slow him down," she ordered fiercely.

Toshio obeyed, disappearing in a flash of black light.

Sakura began running towards the elder's tower. Though she personally disliked the elders, it was her duty as a kunoichi of Konoha to protect them. Duty was such a pain in the ass.

Hokage's office:

"Sakura and her team have retrieved Uchiha Sasuke and his team. Sasuke is still at the hospital being examined, and the other three are in their cells. You'll be glad to know neither Sakura nor Sasuke were severely injured," Tsunade reported, reassuring Kakashi.

Kakashi exhaled slowly. "Turns out our little Sakura has become quite the kunoichi. Not only has she passed you in medicine, but she's captain of her own ANBU team, and very beautiful."

Tsunade frowned, "you are such a per…."

"Hokage-sama!" Toshio exclaimed, bursting into her office, "Sasuke escaped and is on his way to assassinate the village elders. Sakura has followed him. What are your orders?"

Tsunade's brow rose. She glanced at Kakashi and nodded. Kakashi vanished in a puff of smoke. She then glared at Toshio. "Go aid Sakura, and I'll send back-up."

"Hai," and Toshio vanished in a flash of black light.

"Shizune, make sure Naruto stays clear of the elder's tower!" she yelled, and washed down a shot of sake.

Streets of Konoha

Sakura grit her teeth. Though she had told no one, Sakura had used up a good portion of her chakra. Even if she did catch Sasuke she doubted she would hold him off for long. Her breathing grew heavier with every roof she sprinted across.

Shurikens surprised Sakura as she landed on a roof. 'Damn, where did he get those,' she thought, dodging the flying attacks. She knew he would make it there before her, but she couldn't let that happen. Sakura was sure his pride was wounded when he ran from her. She did the only thing she could think of.

"Uchiha, you're such a coward! Are you really that scared I'll slow you down?"

That did it. Sasuke skidded to a stop, and turned to glare at the pink haired kunoichi. His sharingan was blazing and he was pissed.

Sakura skidded to a stop. She was careful to avoid his gaze directly.

"You're the one who's frightened Sakura. Be careful how you insult me," he threatened.

"Or what?" Sakura provoked. "You're the one who ran away…"

Sasuke did the hand signs, and placed his fingers to his lips, blowing out a huge fireball. Sakura's arm was lightly burned as she flipped into the air, and landed a roof away. Before she could even pull her gloves from her pouch, Sasuke was right in front of her. His hand shot out towards her stomach as Sakura blocked with her left arm, throwing her right fist in for a blow to his face. Sasuke ducked, grabbed her right wrist, and landed a hard kick to her abdomen.

Her breath left her as Sakura landed three roofs over. Kneeling, she fought the pain. Her arm stung with the minor burns and her stomach was twisting in knots. Slowly, she stood, breathing heavy.

Sasuke glared. He could tell she was running low on chakra. He also realized that if she landed one of her chakra filled hits on him, he wouldn't make it to the elders. He knew he should run for the elders while he had the advantage, but his Uchiha pride couldn't run a second time.

Sakura heard the wind whistling and the taps of feet across the roofs. Her back-up would be here shortly.

"I know you can hear them closing in. What's your next move Uchiha?"

"Hn…" he replied stiffly. Sasuke disappeared in wisps of fire.

"Dammit!" Sakura cursed.

Sakura's back-up found her barely standing, holding her stomach. Toshio ran to her, and caught her as she was about to fall. Small arms wrapped around Toshio's neck as he carried her to the hospital.

"Sakura…"

"I don't want to talk about it Toshio, forgive me."

Toshio nodded. "Alright, but I'll be here when you're ready."

Sakura closed her eyes and sighed. "Thank you."

No one knew where Sasuke had gone. The elders were holed up in their tower, with ANBU protection. The rest of Team Hebi was still in the holding cells awaiting trial. Sakura had been taken to the hospital that night, and released the next morning.

Walking out of the hospital, she felt someone watching her. Subtly, she removed her gloves from her pouch and slipped them over her feminine hands. She casually made her way down the populated streets, but decided to change course. She had no intention of letting any innocent people get hurt in case her stalker was asking for a fight.

She quickly headed into the dark alleyway towards the far side of the village where all the training fields were. She felt her stalker change his course as well. 'Now I know for sure he's after me.'

Sakura reached an empty clearing and stopped. "Alright, enough playing games."

Surprisingly, Toshio walked into the clearing, confident and angry. Sakura was startled that she hadn't been able to sense Toshio's chakra.

Toshio stopped across from Sakura, about ten feet away. His usually bright eyes now simmered. Sakura suppressed a shiver.

"Toshio-kun, why are you following me?"

Toshio glowered at her. "I was on my way to come see you when I felt his chakra. His scowl deepened.

End of chapter 4