To my dearest readers,

First of all, I'd really like to tell you how much I appreciate that you read up to this part. Most people think my story's too dramatic but then thanks for the support!

I'd just like to inform you thatI'm not gonna update for the next few weeks, because of some made arrangements.

That's basically everything. I'm sorry for the interruption.

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Chapter 7 – Things Sasuke Knew

"Hn" That was Sasuke's only reaction after seeing his brother with Kisame.

Strangely, he put back his katana, and stood up at a poised manner.

"I'm not that stupid to fall for this." Calm words came out from Sasuke's mouth.

Kisame smiled. "As expected…" He looked at Itachi and spoke. "I told you, this trick isn't enough." At that point, Itachi and Kisame returned to their true forms which were Naruto and Yamato.

"Sasuke…" Naruto's fists were quivering. They were full of determination and will.

Sasuke smiled boastfully at Naruto. "I knew it was you. You're the only one who makes this a game anyways…"

"If this was a game… then I wouldn't have joined at the first place." He replied. "Sakura-chan's in there right? Give her back!" He shouted as he was looking at the blurred background before Sasuke.

"No." It was a straight and definite answer by him.

Naruto shouted more. He was persuasive. "Give her back!"

"Why should I?" Sasuke asked ironically.

Suigetsu carrying Sakura goes out. "It's so wet inside, Sasuke could you summon another one?" Suigetsu said as he was looking at the young girl at his arms. He looked straight and saw Naruto's demon red eyes. "Oh" He smiled and walked and went beside Sasuke. "We have company."

"Sakura-chan!" He screamed out loud as he saw Sakura being carried by Suigetsu. He looked at Sasuke. He didn't care. He had no reaction. "Why you… why did you hurt her?" He yelled.

He replied silently. "I never did."

Naruto looked down and smiled. "And you call me stupid eh?"

Sasuke looked inquiringly at Naruto.

"Sasuke-kun…" Naruto closed his fists at his sides.

He gently lifted his head. His eyes looked at him full of pity and shame. "And you consider you leaving her as not hurting her."

Sasuke, even for him, showed minimal signs at his reaction that he was getting a little pissed off. "Tsk. Stop messing with me. You were talking about her state right now."

Naruto started to walk towards Sasuke. "Have you ever considered her condition when you left?" Naruto sighed. "I don't know much about her – about what her real intentions were. But then," Naruto looked at Sakura. "The only thing that I'm sure of was she loved you so much that it hurt her gravely." He said at a trance.

"Loved…" Sasuke looked at Sakura with his cold eyes. Because of Suigetsu's curiosity, he got to have a glimpse of that fleeting moment - a moment unanticipated even for the eyes of the heavens.

Naruto shifted his stare to Sasuke. "- and is still loving you on behalf of everything."

Sasuke sighed before he faced to Naruto. "Giving her back to you wouldn't benefit us."

"Having her benefits you then eh?"

Sasuke turned back. "Explaining you things you're not even supposed to know is just a waste of time." He started to walk.

He smiled. "Did you also consider it a waste of time taking care of her?"

He stopped walking and slightly tilted his head to face Naruto. "I never took care of her."

Naruto said at a sarcastic manner. "We saw you lay her down full of compassion… and here you are telling us that you didn't take care of her." Naruto looked at him heavily. "Don't lie."

Sasuke looked straight. "It was the right thing to do."

"Then what's your reason of leaving us when you knew that, that wasn't the right thing to do." Naruto screamed.

"What do you want to prove, that I'm wrong?" Sasuke answered at his usual manner.

Naruto looked down and looked at both of his hands. He looked both of them, observing every bit of the droplets of the rain that splashed. "It would make no sense if I explained something that you already knew for the passed few years."

Yamato interfered. "This won't go to an end Naruto. Talking won't solve anything. Fighting is one of the choices, but then, it won't suffice. Their quantity is larger than us, and it's just too risky – they might end up to a choice that will involve Sakura. In short, we're in disadvantage. We have no choice but to-." These were the words that he said as he looked at Naruto.

Naruto looked at his back. "What do you mean?"

Yamato sighed, and faced Sasuke. "Sasuke-kun, give us Sakura, in exchange for, the girl we captured."

Suigetsu abruptly looked at Sasuke at a worried manner. "Sasuke..."

Meanwhile…

"The essential sadness is to go through life without loving. But it would be almost equally sad to not ever get the chance to tell those you love that you loved them. You still have time. Don't waste it."

Sai looked at him. "If you really want an answer then…"

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I think this is the shortest I made… is it? Anyways, Just for thrills: Next chapter - The Trade, Her Choice.