Return of the bastard. Hope you enjoy this chapter. Tis sad again...god, I'm killing people, aren't I?


Chapter Seven - Sasuke-kun!

"So...er...Sakura-chan, have you heard from Sasuke?" Naruto asked, glancing down at Sakura nervously. He had tried sounding casual, and failed as they continued their walk down the dirt road.

At first, Sakura couldn't find the words within her to answer. It had only been about a half an hour since the boy who now stood besides her had kissed her. It just felt so strange — she and Naruto had been such good friends for so long, and having him kiss her felt weird. He had held the kiss until he needed breath, and then held onto her like nothing else in the world could possibly matter so much.

Flashback

He let go of the kiss.

"N-Naruto?! What—?"

He was holding her tightly. She was so close to him she could feel the violent shaking of his body against hers.

Suddenly, her shoulder was damp. She tilted her head slowly to look down at her friend, whom she hadn't seen for three long years. Her eyes softened as she gazed at him. He looked in so much pain — tears had formed and now fell gently down his cheeks and onto the shoulder that he was leaning on.

"Naruto-kun...I don't want to hurt you...But please...tell me why. Why did you kiss me? Naruto...I just don't know what I'm supposed to say." Her voice was weak, loose, and wary. To be strong was something so hard in front of a person like Naruto. Especially when he cried.

"Then don't say anything!" was his sharp reply, before he gripped her shoulders, though more loosely than when he had kissed her. "Sakura, it's been three years since I saw you! And I know I have no right to be saying this now, admitting this after all of the time we've spent apart...But Sakura, ever since that day you came to see me in the hospital...I realized something very important. Oh! Sakura-chan, I can't do this anymore. Sakura, I love you."

End Flashback.

"Umm...No, I haven't. Not at all." Sakura finally replied to his question about Sasuke. She frowned, confused. What made Naruto think that Sasuke would keep in contact with her, of all people? He had basically broken her heart — as if she still wanted to talk to him. And you'd think, after everything, Naruto would have realized that Sasuke cared more about Naruto then he ever had for Sakura.

"Oh, okay, just wondering." Naruto said quietly, looking embarrassed about such a stupid question. It was even more difficult for him to keep a conversation going with what he had admitted to her not so long ago.

"Sakura-chan, I just want you to know that I'm sorry about what I said. I'm not saying that it isn't true — because it is, believe me. But I think that maybe I said it too quickly. Sakura-chan, I really just want you to be happy. I'm sorry if what I said frightened you."

Sakura looked at him with solemn eyes and shook her head. "Don't say you're sorry, Naruto. It's not your fault, I don't bla—" Sakura's eyes widened and she was cut off, staring past Naruto now.

"Sasuke-kun." she breathed weakly. Naruto spun around on the spot, and sure enough, right behind him, was an older version of his friend, his brother, his rival.

"Sasuke..."

The other sixteen year old boy was much taller now, but for some reason, he looked very plain. Whether it was just the fact that his eyes were dull and his clothes now beared resemblance with traditional Sound attire, both of them were unsure. He wore a v-cut white shirt that showed off his pale chest, and black pants, and then the traditional black sandals. Naruto snarled under his breath at the site of the light purple bow that Sasuke wore around his waist — Orochimaru.

Sasuke stared at his two teammates for a moment before walking forwards. His eyes landed on Sakura — she flinched. Yet, she didn't avert her eyes from the boy she had once loved so much. He looked so different. It took all she had not to let tears begin dripping down her cheeks.

Naruto continued to glare at Sasuke, and he merely gazed back. He looked so different — yet the curse mark on his shoulder from such a long time ago still shone on the back of his neck.

"Uzumaki Naruto. Haruno Sakura. If Kakashi was here...It would be perfect again, wouldn't it?" There was a very dry sarcasm in his voice as his dull eyes scanned the two of them over again, landing on Sakura first, then Naruto again.

Naruto continued his staring at his old comrade. "You're back." he stated loudly, obviously. "Where's you Sound forehead protector...huh?" It took all of his strength to force those harsh words from himself. His voice trembled and cracked.

"I don't have one, Naruto."

Sure, he heard him, that was for sure. And Naruto understood what he mean, even. But that didn't mean he wasn't about to get utterly pissed at him.

Sasuke barely dodged the angry punch, swearing. "What the hell, Naruto!? I'm your friend!"

"Friend!?! HA! You're a traitor, you BASTARD!" Naruto yelled through his bubbling anger. A series of punches was lashed out at Sasuke. He blocked and dodged all but one, being slammed into the ground.

Without thinking, she cried out in worry. "Sasuke-kun!" During the one second that Naruto was distracted, Sasuke leapt up. Naruto barely looked, and even though he did, he was still shoved backwards.

Sakura could only now stare in silent pain. Before she could sort out the many emotions overcoming her usually calm composure, Sasuke had silently unsheathed four shuriken, one between each of his fingers.

Shik. Shik. Shik. Shik. Each shuriken hit their mark, perfectly. Accurate and precise at the same time, each shuriken running through the skin near the heart, making a sensible amount of blood coming from each wound.

It might have actually killed Naruto had the shuriken hit him. Unfortunately — the four weapons ended up hitting the wrong person. The shuriken had flown through Sakura.


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