"So, the famous Uchiha Sasuke finally comes back… You know, we didn't really believe you would. We'd lost all hope in you coming back after the second day Naruto was gone…"

The words sprung to my mind but I couldn't get myself to say them. I hunched my shoulders, folding into myself, and started to sob. This couldn't be Sasuke. My imagination had to be toying with me. I shook my head, wrapped my arms around myself, and began to slowly walk forward.

I trailed my fingers down his cheek, checking to see if he was really there. "N-no…" I didn't want him to come back like this. I'd had it all planned our. I was supposed to be furious at him and he was supposed to be sorry!

"…S-sakura…"

I looked Sasuke over and saw that the front of his white shirt was covered in bright blood. I gasped, looked at him to see him losing consciousness, and started to peel off his shirt. I was careful not to touch the wound as I helped him lay down.

"J-just… Just st-stay still," I instructed him though I doubted he could hear me.

I hadn't had enough medical training to heal him completely but I could try. I couldn't really make it any worse. I took a deep breath and began to gather chakra in my hands, trying to think of the best way to heal the wound. I placed my hands over his chest and started to slowly heal the wound, trying to stop the bleeding first. Sasuke's face was contorted in pain.

"I'm sorry…"

Within minutes I had exhausted my remaining chakra and could do no more. I had mended the skin over the wound and stopped the bleeding. Under the skin he was still messed up but I had something. If I got him back to Konoha soon he might be okay.

I finally remembered the small kunai Kakashi-sensei had handed me and I dug through my pack, trying to find it. I pulled it out of the very bottom and started to focus my chakra into and stopped. Sasuke was classified as a missing-nin in Konoha and was, most certainly, not welcome. Few people would be happy that he was back. I shook my head and started to focus my chakra again, praying that Kakashi-sensei would be the only one to come.

But of course, he wasn't. Minutes later I had the shuffle of leaves and the distinct sound of Naruto-kun's voice. I sighed and covered Sasuke body as he slipped out of consciousness. Hopefully Naruto wouldn't recognize him.

"Sakura-chan, where are you?! What's wrong? OW!"

"I'm fine," I whispered, seeing them emerge from the trees. "Just fine."

Kakashi-sensei walked up to me, placed a hand on my shoulder, and quietly asked, "What's wrong? Take the wrong path?"

"Yes." I shook my head ever so slightly and motioned for him to turn around.

He glanced down, eye wide in shock. "Is it dead?" Kakashi looked over his shoulder to make sure the others weren't paying attention. "Who is it?"

"It's… not dead. It is a he. And… and the he is… He's, um, Sa-sasuke."

There was a flicker of emotion in his eyes but it quickly passed. "Why'd you cover him up?"

"I didn't want Naruto-kun to see him. He's… he's injured and I didn't know how Naruto would react." I wiped at my eyes and sniffed. "I c-couldn't heal him all the way. W-we need t-to get him back before he, uh, dies. I… I might be able to heal him there. And we, uh, need to get him there without Naruto noticing it's h-him."

I heard the sound of a muffled sob and looked up to see Naruto-kun kneeling over Sasuke's uncovered face. Naruto's face was blank but his eyes held all the emotions ever named. He reached out and touched Sasuke's cheek just they I had done.

"Naruto… k-kun…"

He looked up as Hinata-san placed a hand on his shoulder and choked back another sob. "Heh, I kind of imagined his homecoming a lot different. He was…" Naruto just shook his head and covered his face with his hands.

"I'm sorry…"