A/N: Hello Guys! I'm back... I tried to update sooner so I hope this is soon enough... I'll also be able to update more because it's still in the middle of school vacation here in my place... Hahahahaha... Anyway... Thank you to all the reviewers and the people who favorited this story! Now let's start! ^_^

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. ^_^


Hokage Tower

"Mmmm. This sake tastes good. Better than the one that I bought yesterday." Tsunade mused making a mental note to ask Kakashi where he bought the sake.

Tsunade took another sip on the delicious liquid before the door banged open causing her to spit out the drink all over the place in surprise.

"What the hell Shizune!" she asked while cleaning her face with a tissue.

"I-I'm sorry Tsunade-sama, are you alri-wait, is that sake! Don't tell me your slacking off again?" Shizune asked annoyed at her master.

"Huh? A-ah no, this is-I'm not slacking!" Tsunade exclaimed with a frown on her face.

Shizune looked at her suspiciously for a moment before sighing. 'I give up.' she thought tiredly.

"Anyway, can you give me a reason for barging into my office at this time of the day? I take that it's an emergency?" Tsunade asked raising a single brow.

"As a matter of fact, it is." Shizune sighed again.

Tsunade remained silent and waited for her assistant to continue, she silently took another sip of her precious sake.

"Kazuki said Lina's awake." Shizune said simply.

Tsunade choked at her drink.

"Tsu-tsunade-sama!" Shizune exclaimed as she ran across the room.

"I'm fine." Tsunade said coughing a bit before turning to Shizune. "Now, I believe I have an emergency to attend to." Tsunade said seriously before standing up and started heading towards the hospital with Shizune in tow.


Hospital Room

Sasuke has finally given up trying to return to a much needed sleep and opened his onyx eyes for everyone in the room to see. He silently stretched his stiff muscles and shifted his body to a more comfortable sitting position. He leaned against the headboard of his hospital bed.

"So you're finally taking my advice eh?" Kira smirked lightly.

Sasuke ignored the said comment and focused on his, he daresay, "report" for the hokage. He closed his eyes in an attempt to relax and get rid of the slight nervousness that is now slowly lurking in the pit of his stomach. He will tell the truth for once, he had already completed his mission. He already got what he wanted. There is no point in lying anymore.

His eyes snapped open as he sensed two familiar chakras approach their room. He took notice that the other occupants of the room were also looking expectantly at the closed door. Donning a poker face, he once again closed his eyes and focused on his explanation.

The door opened and closed with a light thud and he heard two sets of footsteps entering the room.

"Uchiha."

He sighed lightly before opening his eyes again. And there standing before him, the hokage of Konoha in all her glory. Sasuke chose to ignore the strong smell of sake that emitted from the woman's clothes. He inclined his head forward in a slight nod of acknowledgement.


To be honest, Tsunade was slightly surprised by the gesture. She had expected a silent treatment, a glare, a speech about him being an avenger, or even a surprise attack. But she never expected him to nod like they were some sort of old business partners.

She raised a brow and voiced her confusion, "You aren't going to act like a stubborn brat and ignore me?"

"I find no reason to do such a childish thing." his monotonous voice responded, still a bit hoarse due to lack of use.

"Aaah. You are easier to talk to than I expected. Or perhaps this is a part of a trap?" she asked.

"That is up to you to decide. Though I think this piece of information that I have is too important for you to ignore." he said.

Tsunade's eyes narrowed at his statement. "Information?"

He nodded.

Tsunade frowned slightly. 'If he really has such an information, he wouldn't rely it to me that easily.' she thought.

"Won't you tell us then?" Both Tsunade and Sasuke turned their heads at the source of the voice. Both remembering that they weren't the only people in the room.

Kazuki frowned at the silence that answered his question. "Well? If you have some information, why don't you say it already?" he stated.

Sasuke smirked. "Well, I just think that this isn't the most appropriate place to discuss something like this."

Tsunade's frown deepened as she realized what he was implying. 'So that is what he wants.'

"You want something in return." it was a statement, not a question.

Sasuke's smirk grew wider, "Yes, ofcourse."

"And that is?" Shizune asked, speaking for the first time.

"An audience with the council of elders."


Wave Country

Hinata sighed loudly as they finally returned to their rented inn.

She was currently enjoying a shower to relax her tired body. She allowed Sakura to go to the shower first since the said pink-headed girl was even more exhausted than her. Now, Sakura is happily venturing to her own dreamland.

They have gotten home far later than they planned. Well, after they got out of the restaurant, they bumped into a suspicious looking guy that was running so fast clutching a green purse. Mere seconds after, a woman in her 30's with a green outfit that matched the purse went running after him while screaming for help.

Hinata sighed again as she remembered Sakura playing the hero and ran after the guy and managed to catch up with him in a dark alley. Sakura retrieved the purse, yes. But not after beating the guy and his pals, who happened to be waiting for him in the alley, into a pulp.

Although everything was normal, Hinata was surprised that one of the guys actually managed to engrave a knife into Sakura's thigh. Though it was nothing serious, since Sakura healed it almost instantly, it got Hinata worried. They were supposed to be here to relax, not to chase some unnamed criminals to prison.

And after all that, they were forced, once again, to eat. The middle-aged woman had practically begged them to join her for dinner. As a thank you gift, she says. Though Hinata remembered Sakura's nagging suspicion that the woman just wanted protection from another snatcher. Sakura, despite her supposed diet, managed to eat more than Hinata again, saying that the chase made her hungry.

Finally convinced that her body was clean enough, Hinata stepped out of the shower and dressed up quickly before leaving the bathroom. She smiled slightly at the sight of her friend sprawled across the bed hugging the little panda plushie that they bought earlier that day. She could faintly here Sakura's small whispers of 'Gaara'. She smiled again before returning to drying her hair.

"Gaara, don't worry. Even if Sasuke-kun returns, i'm still yours okay? Okaaaay." Sakura zoned in her sleep. Hinata chuckled to herself at Sakura's little habit of sleep talking. Finally, her hair was dry enough and so she went for her bed to get her much needed rest. She was asleep before her head hit the pillows.

On the other bed Sakura squirmed slightly and hugged the panda plushie closer. "Sasuke-kun."

A small smile adorned her lips.

"You came back."


Hokage tower

Tsunade stared blankly at the door to her office. She wanted to sleep but sleep seems to avoid her. Her mind also seems to enjoy replaying the little scene at the hospital room a while ago. It was annoying, really. Now, not only does she have tons of unfinished paperwork but she has to consult to the council of elders for that stupid brat's request. She sighed slightly before turning her chair around to stare at Konoha's night time activities.

'What are you planning now, Uchiha.'


"An audience with the council of elders." Sasuke said smirking.

A moment of silence.

"What the heck are you saying! Do you understand the meaning of what you just said!" Kazuki all but screamed his lungs out.

"I am aware of the words that escape my mouth, unlike some people out there." Sasuke said all the traces of the smirk in his face was removed and replaced by a frown.

"And what are you implying!" Kazuki said standing up from his chair ready to charge at Sasuke when a restraining hand held his shoulders.

"Calm down Kazuki." Kira ordered at the fuming teen before turning to Sasuke, "The only people that can request the audience of the elders are Hokage-sama and the other important ninjas in this village. What makes you think that a criminal like you can talk to them?"

"Exactly, because I'm a criminal. Newly captured criminals can meet them in their judgement day, if I remember correctly." Sasuke answered.

"And you can prove that you will truly give us this information by?" a silent voice asked. Sasuke turned to the other patient in the room. He stared at her for a few seconds before turning to look at Tsunade directly in the eyes.

"I swear as an Uchiha, I will give this information once you've granted my request." he said.

"This is not something you can prove just by sweari-"

"Understand, I will try to make that request possible." Tsunade interjected before Kazuki can complete his sentence.

"Tsunade-sama!" Shizune exclaimed.

"In exchange, do you give me your word?" Tsunade said ignoring the protests.

"Ofcourse. Thank you." Sasuke said then bowed his head slightly as a sign of gratitude.

"Then I shall leave you here now, Shizune, we will check them up first thing in the morning but for now let them rest. Kazuki, Kira, remain here." Tsunade ordered.

"Hai! Tsunade-sama!" All three responded as the hokage turned to the door. All three were confused by their master's decision but it's not like they can counter the word of the Hokage.

"This is a chance Uchiha, don't break it." Tsunade said before exiting the room followed by Shizune.

Long after the door closed, Sasuke nodded.

"I know."


A/N: Sorry if this is a bit short... And there's a lot of sighing going on as well... XD... Ahahahahahahah... And Gaara isn't here either T_T... I just needed to get things ready for the next events... Hehehehehe... Sooo... I'll just try to update soon and get this done... Hahahahaha... Again thank you to all the readers, reviewers, and everyone! I'll be back here soon! Please review!

Ja ne~

A sHaDoW eAgLe