SP/n: I want to cry. You guys are too nice. :( I don't deserve your kind reviews! As a token of my appreciation. :)

Here's a long update (long for me) you negative bunny, you know who you are.

Recap:

"Just get out. Let me sort things out on my own."

Naruto smoothed out the envelope in his hands before putting it on the table. He stood up, looking at his friend, who the whole time he was there didn't even spare a millisecond of a glance in his direction. He made his way toward the door and lingered there a while before leaving.

The last time Sasuke said that, three years passed.

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:::

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In a flurry of panic Naruto hurriedly called up his friends to discuss the Sasuke issue. Unfortunately, Neji and TenTen aren't present once again and Kiba was catching up on sleep (Hmph, some friend). So the only people there were Ino, Shikamaru and Hinata.

"Sasuke needs help."

"Doesn't he always?" Shikamaru muttered.

"What about Sakura?" Ino asked.

Naruto made a face which had Ino wondering whether he meant I'm-so-guilty-this-is-all-my-fault-please-don't-kill-me or I-just-ate-a-wonderful-serving-of-chilli-so-now-I'm-so-constipated.

Hinata gasped. "Uzumaki Naruto, what did you do to Sakura?"

Ino was leaning more on the chilli, but... Meh.

"Nothing!" The blonde retorted defensively. "Well, nothing directly to her—"

"What did you do?" His girlfriend said menacingly.

"—it was an indirect crime against her—"

"Naruto."

"—it wasn't anything offensive, just some articles—"

"Uzumaki."

"—she doesn't even know I had anything to do with her and Sasuke's now totally non-existent relationship."

"Uzumaki Naruto!"

"I asked Shikamaru to run a search on her and then found some stuff and I just printed them all and gave them to Sasuke, I don't even know what was written in those pieces of paper, it had some other language written, like Croatian or something." Naruto said in a hurry.

Both females turned to the lazy pineapple.

"Woah, don't blame this on me." He raised his hands in front of him in some sort of sad excuse for self-defense. "I emphasized to Naruto that these were old archives."

Both females turned to guilty blonde.

Naruto made a face again. "I didn't really emphasize they were old..."

"Naruto!"

"But I told him they were old!" the blonde said in his defense.

"I can't believe you would do that Naruto..." Hinata said disappointedly. "Sasuke was happy, maybe not totally, but he was getting there. And if it weren't for Sakura that wouldn't even be close to possible."

"I know, I know..."

Ino gave a little scoff. "Oh c'mon people, you're talking as if Sasuke's dead. He couldn't possibly be that depressed.

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"You were saying?"

"Oh dear God..." Ino whispered in shock as she surveyed the condition of Sasuke's house.

"Oh my God." Hinata gasped as she ran back out for some fresh air.

Shikamaru couldn't have been happier. He took one huge inhale and gave a sigh of relief. "Why didn't you tell me about this sooner?" He sighed in utter bliss which earned a glare from his girlfriend. "Um, smoking is bad?"

"You're lucky I didn't sic Sakura on you. Don't make me do it, you pothead." Ino said threateningly.

"I suck as a friend."

"Yes, yes you do." Ino agreed with Naruto's statement. "Let me talk to him." She said marching toward the Uchiha boy.

"I'll go with you." Shikamaru said in a daze as he trailed behind Ino, though he was only doing it to get closer to the source of the putridly divine aroma.

Ino sat on the single couch while Shikamaru so bravely sat beside the Uchiha boy, fortunately, he didn't move. Wait, he didn't move. Shit, is he dead?"

"Sasuke?"

An exhale of gray smoke alerted them that he was perfectly fine. Well, as fine as a depressed Uchiha could get. Naruto could only watch in utter guilt. I'm such an awesome best friend. The awesomest in his kind.

"Wait, are the fumes getting to me or do I really smell something citrus-y?" Ino inquired, sticking her nose in the air. "And mint-y. Wow, didn't think those two would make nice with each other. Oh dear, am I high, Shikamaru?" Ino asked frantically.

"Troublesome." Shikamaru muttered. "No, Ino. You are not high. I smell it too."

"Even Sakura didn't get high staying here for months." Sasuke's deep voice whispered, which sounded scratchy and hoarse, like he hadn't drank water while trudging the Gobi desert for days under the summer heat.

"Sasuke, you sound horrible. Drink something." Ino said upfront, not really caring if she hurt his feelings. In the state he's in, she doubted if he could even feel anything.

Sasuke lifted a bottle to his lips and drank quickly. She couldn't believe she didn't see that, he was holding an alcohol bottle in his other hand. Tequila to be exact. Damn, Sasuke was really fucked up right now. And Ino kind of wanted to smash that bottle on Shikamaru's head seeing him asking Sasuke for a whiff of his joint.

"Shikamaru…" Ino growled.

"Just one drag, babe." Shikamaru said, inhaling a long one before giving it to Sasuke. He stood up and left, not exhaling.

Ino opened her mouth to say something but Sasuke beat her to it. "Don't even say anything Yamanaka, I don't give a fuck. Just get out."

"But that didn't really stop me before did it?" Ino countered. "Look, I don't care what the hell you do to yourself just because you want to fuck everything up, but really, this is overdoing it, this is bordering on killing yourself, and that I can't stand." She flicked her hair out of her face. "Get your shit together Uchiha!"

Sasuke, being the smart ass he is, raised both his joint and the alcohol bottle and hugged them to his chest. "Together." He muttered.

Ino's eye twitched and haughtily stormed outside, hitting Naruto on the chest. "Tag, you're it."

Time to face the music.

Naruto slowly dragged his feet toward where the Uchiha was sitting and situated himself on the couch's arm rest. He started to panic, it was exactly like how it was three years ago, he didn't know what to say, or if he did have something to say, he didn't know how to say it. Gah! Why is it always easier on TV?

"So what's up?" He blurted. Fuck, no! Idiot!

Sasuke looked at Naruto with a bored expression. "Really?"

"Cut me some slack, I'm trying here." Naruto said nervously. Sasuke didn't respond. The blonde didn't really know what Sasuke needed, well a bath maybe and mints, maybe some food… emotionally! He didn't know what Sasuke needed emotionally. Ino's talk didn't work, it usually didn't, Shikamaru's go-with-the-flow obviously didn't too. Maybe…

"You know, I can see you struggling, keeping everything to yourself. It's okay to talk about problems Sasuke, everyone has them."

"…"

"You've always been like that, making it seem like nothing's wrong. Maybe that's why you're such a dick most of the time. But when I saw you with Sakura, you weren't really that much of a dick. She brought out your good side. And maybe I was kind of jealous cause she fitted right in with ease, while I tried so hard."

"…"

"So now, I'm the absolute master dick who doesn't really deserve to be called your best friend since I practically sabotaged the only thing that was starting to make a positive change in your life."

"Na—"

"I'm sorry."

Sasuke was silent before he let out a breath. He leaned forward toward the table and set the bottle and his cancer stick down and settled back comfortably on his couch.

"Those papers you gave me…" Sasuke spoke, which alerted Naruto. "They were financial statements on the Swiss branch of the Uchiha Corporation. It was a good awakening to the real world."

This time it was Naruto who was speechless.

"Sakura's dad is the Executive President of the Switzerland branch of the Uchiha Corporation, so—"

Naruto's eyes widened. "Fuck she's loaded?"

"Very much so, until you showed those financial statements to me. I don't know what's happening over there but as the years went by their numbers went down. And by down, I mean down."

"So… what are you going to do about that?" Naruto spoke slowly, now being conscious of his words.

"Don't know."

Naruto couldn't really think of anything to say so he just sat there. What could he say? The damage was done, he couldn't do anything about it. He looked at Sasuke and saw him just staring into space. A thought came to his mind. He didn't want to do it, despite the circumstances he still didn't want to do it. But if he was going to regain even the tiniest sliver of trust back from Sasuke he had to do it.

"Hey man, Ino's right, you look horrible. I'd punch Rock Lee a hundred times and you'd still look worse." Naruto said lightly hoping to get a reaction.

Nothing.

Now he was even more convinced he had to swallow his pride.

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:::

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"Naruto?"

"Hi… Sakura." The blonde ground out through clenched teeth.

The pinkette held the door open wider. "Oh dear, how rude of me. Come in." She said with a smile. The blonde stared at her and found it hard to stay angry. He walked past her making sure to avoid looking at her to save some of his dignity. But his façade fell once he surveyed her penthouse.

"What brings you here? Though I don't remember telling you where I live. I guess Ino told you." Sakura rambled. "I'm forgetting my manners again, please sit." She continued as she sat down on her couch while Naruto took a seat in front of her.

"So…" She began again, breathless. "Do want anything to drink?"

"I'm fine."

Sakura shot up abruptly from her seat startling Naruto. "I know you're thirsty, don't be shy. But I only have tea… I can make you some juice." Once again she rambled as she made her way to her kitchen. Naruto was starting to look at her like she was crazy. He followed.

"I only have grape juice, do you mind?" She asked with a smile.

"Yes, I mind."

Sakura's smile faltered a bit as she lowered the pitcher down. Another smile made its' way to her face. "Well, I th—"

Naruto shot his arm out and held her shoulders, it was an unexpected move, but he had too otherwise Sakura wouldn't stop talking. "Sakura, it's fine. Just… just stay still."

"I'm sorry… It's just that I'm nervous. And I ramble when I'm nervous." She hung her head. "I know you don't like me and Sasuke says we would've been great friends, so I… I— am I trying too hard?" She asked sheepishly. If she was ashamed it didn't show that much. Only genuine concern was etched on her face.

The blonde let her go and cried out in frustration. He wanted to hate Sakura, he really did. But it was so hard when she was so nice. If she could melt Uchiha Sasuke's frozen black heart, then there's nothing she couldn't do. Naruto rubbed his face. "Ugh… Why is it so hard to hate you?" He thought out loud.

"Pardon?"

He shook his head. "Never mind that. I'm here to talk about Sasuke." He saw her face fall.

"What about Sasuke?"

"He's miserable, Sakura." Naruto breathed out. "I-I don't know anymore. One day he's fine and the next he's bordering on suicidal. He won't listen to reason. And I'm scared… I don't— I don't know what to do. Ino tried talking to him, Hinata won't even go in that house, Shikamaru and Kiba are absolutely no help and I'm a fuck-up. So please Sakura… could you talk to him?"

Sakura was wide-eyed at Naruto. She already knew Sasuke's condition, but she was surprised that Naruto was practically begging her. "I visited him a few times." She gave an awkward laugh. "He won't even let me in the house."

Naruto took her hands in his. "Please Sakura… Try harder. I'll get you in that house. Just please help Sasuke."

Sakura blushed at the sudden contact. "Y-You're his best friend. Besides, I'm just a stranger to him."

"You changed him Sakura. In the few months you were with him was the greatest improvement we've seen. We tried for years but he was a stubborn bastard. He-He listens to you." Naruto swallowed a hard gulp. "You hold a place in his heart."

The female shook free from Naruto's hold. "Please Naruto… d-don't say that. But I'll try and talk to him again. "

"Thank you, Sakura. I just know he'd listen to you.

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"Get the fuck out!"

"Teme!" Naruto cried out watching a bottle whizz past him. "Hey! That could've hurt someone!"

The day after Naruto's visit to Sakura's he had brought Sakura back to Sasuke's house. He had hoped that once Sasuke saw Sakura he'd be okay… Boy was he dead wrong. Now they stood in the living room, Naruto and Sakura inch by inch backing towards the door to avoid Sasuke's rage.

Sasuke pointed a bottle at a cowering Sakura. "You…" He seethed menacingly. "I know why you're here. Do you think I'm stupid? I may be high, but I'm not stupid. Seducing the only heir to the Uchiha Corporation… You're nothing but a tramp!"

"Hey teme! Out of line!"

At this Sakura fumed. "Excuse me? I can take all other names you called me, but I won't stand being called a tramp! Which I am not!"

"So you're saying you're a liar, a traitor, a fucking gold digger." Sasuke growled.

"I didn't say that!" Sakura cried. "Sasuke!—"

"Don't call me that! You don't have the right!"

Sakura frowned and straightened in her stance. "Put down that damn bottle Uchiha and talk to me like a civilized man."

"Fuck you." He ground out.

Sakura pulled on her hair. "Are you even listening to yourself? You sound ridiculous!"

"You can't judge me, you don't have the right to judge me! You're only here for the money you don't really care, so quit playing, Sakura." The venom he laced with her name was so vile that it sent shivers up Naruto's spine.

Sakura was taken aback. "Money? What the hell are you talking about?"

Sasuke threw the bottle on the ground smashing it, earning a shriek from both the blonde and the pinkette. "Don't play dumb with me, you're only here for the money. You're going broke, aren't you? That's why you're here. Seduce the last Uchiha hoping to get a cut of his money and soon fly back to daddy." He mocked.

"What?! I don't care about your damn money!"

"Shut up!" Sasuke growled. He pointed the broken bottle at the two and slowly advanced towards them. "Get out… Get out!"

"Oy Sasuke! Put that down!" Naruto said slowly backing away, his eyes shifted to Sakura who was still rooted to her spot. "Sakura! Get away!"

Once Sasuke was a foot's length away from Sakura he stopped but still held an unwavering glare. His eyes were red, his lips were dry and chapped and his whole face was starting to turn an ugly shade of gray. "Get out." He seethed lowly making sure Sakura could hear every venom laced syllable.

As soon as Sasuke spoke the smell from his smoking sessions wafted violently up her nose. A violent mix of nicotine, weed and bad breath. Her eyes squinted at the vile stench, threatening to tear up. Her heart pounded wildly and she started to breath rapidly. She felt her air passages close down and soon everything was starting to blur. She choked and coughed. Sakura reached out to Sasuke hoping to catch herself before she fell, she ended up scratching her arm on the broken bottle in Sasuke's hands.

Too late.

Thud

"Sakura!"

SP/n: But srsly guys, I'm fond of short chapters, so bear with me. :) Aaaaand, I hated that last chapter. That's why I was so hesitant on posting it.

Tell me what you think! :)