Sakura awoke from her deep sleep. She was still in the cabin, and the sun was just as golden as when she fell asleep. Sasuke was awake, leaning against the wall.

"Sasuke, what happened? Will you come back to Konoha?" Did you kill Itachi?"

"Calm down. I chased Itachi for years, and I killed him. Murdered him and Kisame...like he murdered my clan."

"What about coming back? What about Naruto?" Sasuke said nothing. "What about coming back?" she repeated.

"Do you think I can really come back? After what I did?"

"You don't understand! We all...missed you."

"Can they really overlook what they went through just for me? Can they forgive fourteen years of suffering –"

"If I can, then they can!"

"Have you...really forgotten? Are you really that forgiving? When you wanted to see me, did you actually want to see me or punch me in the face?" Sakura pondered for a minute."No." she said simply. "We'll all forgive you. Why do you think we searched for you? To punish you? No! We searched because your one of our own!"

"I'm not coming back."

'Don't you trust me? If you won't come back, I'll become an outlaw with you! Just like I said the night you left!" Sakura was on her feet, shaking. "If we wanted you dead, I would kill you right here."

Sasuke snickered. "If you're anything like I remember, you won't get very far."

"If I'm anything like you remember, you know I'm not stupid to chase after a powerful ninja alone. And I am clearly alone."

"How do I know they won't blow down the door any minute?"

"You don't. You have to trust me.'

"I'll think about it." he said.

Gaara, Temari, and Kankurou once again were heading down the road that leads into Konoha.

"Temari," Kankurou started irritably,"You should make up your mind to stay in Sunakagure or not."

"I've already decided." she said just as irritably. "But are you sure you can handle Gaara?" she whispered under her breath, not desiring Gaara to hear and crush them all.

"I'll be fine."

Ino couldn't stop worrying about Sakura. She had never worried like this before, not for anyone. "I hope she's fine...I hope...I wonder if she'll die hating me...I hope she doesn't..." then, she resolved that she might talk to Sakura a bit more.

Sasame was anxious. The wedding would be soon, they had gotten prepared very fast. When she walked into Naruto's office stating that it was a week away, both Naruto and Shino (whom she had never heard word from) both asked why so soon. She already had the dress; she had known exactly what she wanted. The flowers were ready, for the florists had toiled hard since it was the Hokage's wedding. Her family was heading down to Konoha where the wedding would be held, and she knew who her bridesmaids would be. A cousin or two, and Sakura if she got back in time.

Neji gazed lazily out the window, watching his new house is built. He was tired of being in the same house as Hinata, and she and Shino were jus as happy he would be moving to another house on the property.

Author's notes: Next chapter is the end.