A/N: It has been a year…an entire year and I have not updated. This past year had a lot going on, but still. I have had a lot of brainstorming of what direction I want the story to go in and been trying to shift between school, prepping for college, and a whole bunch of other things. I'm not going to bed and plead for you, the readers, forgiveness. Instead, I've decided to show you how apologetic I am by making up for lost time. Before I release this chapter, I plan on writing 5 more consecutively, then releasing them all at once. It seems a little unorthodox to barrage with chapters, but I think it is owed to all the fans of this story. This chapter is going to be pretty drama filled, but not Sakura's breakthrough point in her confidence, although she's going to be a little aggressive in this one. We've got to hurt our heroine a little bit more before we see her mature. I now present the much overdue Chapter 10 of Euphoria.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Naruto franchise or any of the related works and/characters. I do however own this plotline in creative and literary aspects.

"…." Conversation

'….' Thoughts

'BOLD' Inner

"These things happen."

That is what Sakura chanted to herself as she started off on her walk home in the dusk light.

"Loneliness is just the part of your life that you will never escape, so the sooner you accept it, the sooner you can find happiness, Sakura."

Ironically, Sakura had been alone for eight lingering years now yet happiness has always been a stranger to her. She had only two friends whom she saw infrequently, her home life spoke for itself, and it seemed the world was sick of her though she hadn't been in it naught more than sixteen years; usually, universally despised people had been around long enough to rightfully accredit themselves the awful reputation they possess. Was is fair? Of course not.

"But these things happen."

Sakura, at the moment, despised all of them. Every single person who called Earth home was a natural enemy in her eyes. Loneliness leads to heartbreak, nevertheless eight straight years of it, but dragging someone out of loneliness only to crush their hope hardens the heart; and hardened hearts make a soft exterior. Let them play their cruel games and try to use her as a lightning rod for their scorn. One day, Sakura Haruno would strike back at them, using all the accumulated power from their scorn to dazzle and demolish them as they did her. The image of cherry blossom tree under an iron grey sky striking passersby with lightning relayed through her mind.

Sakura stopped mid step, muttering to no one in particular, "Wow, that was dark."

She knew she was being morbid about the entire situation, but what was there to be? She felt wronged and mistreated—enough had to be enough eventually.

Shrugging her shoulders to adjust the position of her backpack's weight on her, Sakura continued on the now dark street. She had never explored Konoha during the city's nightly musings due to habit. As a child back when her mother still cared for her, she had been told children who venture out into the streets of Konoha at night leave frolicking and come back in pieces or under psychological duress. At the time, Sakura had just learned of the horrors of the Onryo, thanks to watching the trailer for Ju-On: The Grudge on her TV set one night, so after hearing the disturbing happenings in her town, it was no wonder Sakura nearly had a crying fit in the middle of the street one night after finding herself at a park a ways from her house when the streetlights clicked on.

But now as she traversed her city's streets, no implications of hostility or immediate danger plagued her except the slight chill of the air. While its inhabitants were all tucked away in the shelter of their warm homes, her City had come to life in the night shade. The cricket played its standing appendages to match the harmony of its brethren, moths roused from their nocturnal state to grace the sky in flight, and fireflies wandered through the air in communities, carrying tiny lighted orbs upon their backs, looking as if they were a mobile towns all by themselves. 'Yes,' Sakura thought to herself, 'my city, Konoha, is very much alive.' Life was happening all around her and to ponder small, perpetual struggles would be a shame. The lively night sounds calmed her, reassuring her that she was not alone after all.

She walked down the lamp-lighted street until coming upon a familiar hill. Sakura adjusted her burden again before climbing the hill and careened down it. On her right, Sakura approached the mini mart she normally passed on her way to school. At this rate, she figured would miss dinner assuming someone in the house had been hungry or willing enough to prepare it, so stopping for a quick snack would do her well. After scanning for cars, Sakura crossed the street and came to the small white building's entrance. She spotted a chain smoker, leaning lazily against the wall next to the door. He nodded in her direction, speaking, "Hi, Lady." She smiled nervously and greeted him lowly under her breath before entering the store.

The door chimed as she entered and Sakura sighed at the warmth of the building. She browsed up and down the aisles looking for something that would make for a suitable dinner, but not take too long to prepare. When a row of pale yellow in the refrigerated section caught her eye, she smiled and took one of the packages to the front counter.

Two minutes later, Sakura walked out the store, unwrapping her dinner. Pucchin Purin was usually eaten by placing it on a plate, container upside down, and popping the tab to release the pudding, but since Sakura had no plate or a spoon, she resolved to eat it gingerly with her fingers. Her eyes almost rolled back at the ecstasy of the creamy taste on her tongue. Sakura then abandoned all false sense of manners and scooped the pudding in her mouth using three of her fingers right there in front of the mini mart.

'This is too good! What do they put in this stuff? Wait, I shouldn't be eating this, I'm dancer! This thing probably has like 220 calories and I'm scarfing it down like it's nothing.'

Another scoop.

'Oh hell, I'll lose the pounds. They probably won't notice anyway. Why did I skip breakfast this morning?'

"Hungry, little lady?"

Sakura nearly chocked on the pudding in her mouth at the chain smoker's question, a playful smile on his lips.

"Oh, uh, yeah, I guess so," she tried to comment smoothly to hide her embarrassment. By the way she was eating, the man probably thought she was raised in a horse stable. Scratch that, the horses would have more class than what she displayed.

The man chuckled to himself as if laughing at his own little joke, taking a drag on his cigarette in between breaths.

Sakura uncomfortably giggled also to ease herself anymore mortification and walked back to the road to continue her journey.

'Can't ever go back there, again,' the pink haired girl thinks to herself, again in sour spirits.

Meanwhile, a group of teenage boys bickered back and forth in a royal blue Mazda as they drove through the streets of Konoha.

"This is all your fault, Hansuke!"

"My fault? You were the one that got us caught, Naoko!"

"No, Hansuke, Naoko's right. If you hadn't been flirting with owner's girl, we would have never have gotten kicked out of the bar! It's because we had to defend your sorry ass that he threw us out in the first place!"

"You always take his side!"

"All of you, shut up!"

The other youths immediately close their mouths at the command of the driver, who had been suffering in silence ever since they were thrown out of one of Konoha's most popular night time hangouts, Drone.

Behind the wheel was one of Konoha High's most promising students and star batter on the baseball team, Akio Hagarami. His family was of a prestigious background, making Akio was the family's 'Golden Boy,' the one who would take his family name and showcase it in the spotlight through his adeptness in athletics and mind for numbers. Akio, however, could care less about protecting the family name, but more about the amount of women and fame his skills could bring him. And as of right now, cruising through Konoha dateless in a car full of his baka friends wasn't what he considered a good start to a 'Path of Greatness,' or whatever his parents called their foolish dream. His carved path would be great, but through his own doing, no matter how reckless he would be on the journey there.

"This is bull," Akio shakes his head as the car rounded a right turn, "Here I am, driving around town like a lame when I could be getting shots and being nibbled on by a chick. This is all your faults! Hansuke, you flirted with that chick on purpose just for the hell of it and Naoko, if you had been worrying about getting us legitimate looking IDs instead of bitching at Hansuke, we'd still be at the bar right now! Ugh, all of you just shut up for the rest of the ride before you piss me off and I kick you out. Damn idiots," Akio grumbled the last part under his breath.

Everyone fell silent, each in an extreme state of annoyance, but none of them wanted to take fault for their night out gone awry. They had been driving around town to nowhere in particular for ten minutes when Naoko broke the silence.

"Hey, hey, Akio, slow down. Isn't that Pink Freak over there?"

"What? Where?"

"Right there, she's on the sidewalk now."

Akio saw a glimpse of pink coming down the sidewalk, a foot in front of the car. He grinned silently to himself in musing.

"Well I'll be…," Akio turned his head to the backseat, "Good news boys, this night might not be so boring after all."

This earned him a unanimous chuckle from the boys behind him. Akio pulled up beside the walking pinkette, slowing down to match her stride. In the back of his mind, Akio was thankful he had his windows tinted two days before or else the pink religious freak would have ran away immediately at the sight of the unruly crew in the car who didn't mind terrorizing her throughout the school day. Sakura hadn't slowed down since the car pulled up beside her nor did she acknowledge its presence.

"Playing dumb, eh?"

Akio then rolled down his driver window and yelled out to her, "Hey, don't I know you?"

He could see her fray at hearing his voice, sending delightful shivers up at his spine at the power he had over her with only his voice. Sakura tried to speed up her walk, her shoes clicked the sidewalk hard as she wrapped her arms about herself.

"Oh yeah, I know you. Going to a shrine or have you outgrown that?'

Sakura replied with attempting to speed walk further from the car, but it easily kept time with her.

"Guess so. Still bleeding though aren't you? Need a tampon?"

Through her teeth, Sakura growled, "Leave me alone."

"Excuse me, do you want to say that a little louder?"

"…."

"Yeah, that's what I thought. Hey guys, look at what we got here…"

To Sakura's horror, windows rolled down to reveal the high school jerks that frequently torture her for amusement, Karin in their company most of the time. Judging by the idiotic smirks plastered on their faces, they were there to continue administering her abusive and humiliating medicine.

Sakura's speed walk had turned to a jog by now and her mind was running a mile a minute. She knew if she progressively kept speeding up, they would just follow her and her chances of out running a V8 engine powered car were slim to none. But if things kept on like they were going, Sakura knew this wouldn't end well—for her.

'How do I get out of here?'

Naoko let out a stupid chortle, "Heh, heh, maybe Pink Freak doesn't want a tampon, but she sure misses her Mommy!"

Sakura hesitated slightly, but picked up pace in her jog.

'Leave me alone, leave me alone, leave me alone, leave me alone!'

"Hey, Pink Freak," Akio says to her now, reaching behind him for his cold half-filled vodka bottle, "Cool down, you look a little hot."

Akio threw the contents of the bottle onto Sakura and she stopped completely, half a bottle's worth of vodka completely soaking her hair and part of her sweater. Her eyes wide with disbelief, she recoiled at the powerful stench and rubbing her eyes to stop the burning of the alcohol.

"Are you freaking insane? You could have blinded me! LEAVE ME ALONE!"

Hansuke tapped Akio on the shoulder, "I think she's about to run. Let's leave before anyone shows up."

"You can do whatever you want, but I'm not going to drive around town all night when I have fun right here. Naoko," Akio looked at Naoko beside him in the passenger seat, talking in a low voice, "when I get out of the car, get in the driver's seat, and I mean immediately." Akio put the car in park with engine still running.

"What are you going to—"

"Just shut up and do what I say!"

Still blinded by the vodka in her eyes, Akio saw his chance and without warning, open the door, got out of the car and grabbed Sakura by the shoulders. Sakura tried to fight him, but his grip was firm on her and her vision was skewed.

"Get off of me! Let me go!"

"Uh-uh, you and I are going for little ride. Naoko, pop the trunk."

"Aiko…"

"Do it!"

Sakura head-butted Naoko, catching him off guard, and lurched down the sidewalk in the opposite direction. Ignoring his friends' screams to get back in the car, Aiko sped down the street after her, catching her by the loose straps of her backpack and put her in a severe headlock.

"You think that was funny, huh? We'll see who going to be laughing by the end of the night."

He wrenched her neck back in the direction of the car, shooting pain through her head so terribly that she thought she was going to pass out. Her hands were clamped around Aiko's bicep, trying to pry the teenager's grip from her throat. Sakura felt pressure build in her lungs, each ongoing minute without air making them strain more and more until there was a burning sensation in her chest.

Hoarsely, she cried, "P—please…air…"

Aiko tightened his hold on her neck at her pleas.

"Be quiet," he leaned down to her right ear, "When I'm done with you, air isn't the only thing you're to need…"

The trunk was open when Aiko approached his car. Sakura had grown slack in his arms, the breath left in her body waning along with her will to fight. Aiko lifted her up and placed her in the trunk of his car, preparing to close the top when he heard something.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Aiko chuckled, then turned to face the voice. "Me, I just taking out the trash. What about you, Uchiha?'

Clad in a dark grey pair of sweatpants, blue and white sneakers, and a black hoodie with gilded dragon embossed detail on the front, Sasuke took one step towards Aiko, his head cocked to the side in an almost curious manner.

"I'm watching some asshole beat up a defenseless girl."

Aiko hardened his stare at Sasuke, "Watch your mouth, Uchiha. This doesn't concern you," Hansuke and another boy exited the car upon seeing Sasuke show up, "now leave while I still allow it. I'd hate to mess our friendship over this."

"Number one, we're not friends and number two, get Sakura out of the trunk and I'll walk away."

Aiko glanced at his friends on either side of him in their threatening fighting stances. He nodded simply, "Okay."

He reached down and took Sakura into his arms, ignoring her groan and kept his eyes on Sasuke the entire time. They stood with eyes locked on each other, seemingly in a mental stalemate when Aiko threw Sakura down hard to the ground, her skull making a sickening crunch as her head hit the edge of the sidewalk.

"There, she's out of the trunk now!"

Sasuke swung first.

'Am I bleeding?'

Sakura slowly brought her hand to the injured side of her head and retracted it, seeing the dreaded maroon color covering her hand like a grotesque glove. A whimper escaped her and let her hand fall back to the cold pavement. Not far off from her, she could hear the sounds of scuffling, streams of curses, and the word, "Uchiha," being screamed over and over.

"Sasuke…"

Her voice came out a mere breath against the air. The car was still running, this she knew from the heat of the tailpipe burning her calf. One lone tear welled into her eye and fell down her cheek.

It was the only tear shed.

She could hear Naoko screaming out the window for the boys to come back to the car, but it didn't faze her. It took an eternity for her to rise to her knees, falling back to the ground often because the trauma her head suffered caused vertigo, but eventually she got to her feet, swaying in an uncontrolled motion. She reached down to her backpack and brought out her heavy Biology textbook, clutching it to her chest from fear her hands would lose control and drop it otherwise.

"I-I don't…"

Her steps towards the fighting teenagers were short and wary, so quiet they didn't know of her presence when she was only feet away.

"I don't need..."

As if she was raising the book to the Heavens for Kami to give her strength, Sakura lifted the book over her bloody pink hair. Like the lightning of raging storm, the book came crashing down. Along with the book, the body came crashing onto the road.

Aiko lay still over Sasuke, slumped over the shocked raven haired boy. Aiko's friends gawked at Sakura in disbelief. She didn't care about them, only locking eyes with Sasuke. Emerald eyes met coal.

"I don't need you…protecting me…I..don't need you for anything…"

Green feline-like eyes flashed to Hansuke and Akio's other friend, "Leave," she kicked Aiko with her heel, "—and take him with you."

The two teenagers did not move an inch, still in shock at the events that transpired. Angered, Sakura shouted, "Did you hear what the fuck I said?! LEAVE!"

Snapping out of their reverie, the boys moved quickly to collect their friend, each taking Akio under his arms and dragged him back to his car. After the Mazda made a loud screeching noise, Sakura eyes trailed after it as the blue car raced down the road until it turned and disappeared from sight.

A sigh of relief escaped her lips as she turned her attention back to Sasuke, now on his feet and looking quite uncomfortable, the first real emotion Sakura had ever seen the raven haired boy display. She looked away for a moment when a glint of silver in the road caught her eye. She walked over and picked up the object, holding it close to her face for examination. Sakura then held out the object in Sasuke's direction.

"You dropped your phone."

Sasuke gazed at her for some time before approaching and taking the phone from her hands.

"Uh…thanks," was all he could muster as he pocketed the phone in his hoodie.

Upon watching her carefully, Sasuke could see tears running down Sakura's dirt smudged face.

"Sakura—"

"Sasuke?"

Sasuke hesitated. A whistling sound came through the air and connected with a soft surface. Sasuke held his cheek in pain from the sting of the slap, muttering a curse. After recovering from the blow, he looked up to see Sakura speeding away from him, only her pink hair lingering in the streetlight before its rose brilliance too had vanished.

The next day, Sakura slept in for half an hour more and took twice as long to dress for school. The reason being partly because of the massive headache she was suffering and the other was she just wasn't prepared for life today. After what happened yesterday evening, Sakura was surprised she even attempted to get out of bed. The scene of her bashing Aiko in the head with a textbook played over and over again in her mind, forcing the pinkette to realize that Aiko and his entire gang could come back to avenge the injury on their friend. But some reason, the notion of punishment for what happened didn't scare her back to reality either; she just wasn't 'living' today, she was only existing to get through the day, if she could do that. To her, today was just another Thursday.

After dressing herself, Sakura took her time to come upstairs, finding the house empty upon inspection.

'They must have left already.'

Inwardly, Sakura was glad everyone had left without her. She was already grouchy and apathetic—a dangerous mix of emotions that probably would have incited her to snap at someone, which would then cause a somewhat justifiable punishment to be handed out. The day Sakura felt any of her torture was justified was the day when she checked herself into a sanitarium to spare humanity of the evil that was to come from her.

Not stopping to eat breakfast, Sakura headed out to school. The sun was shining so brightly that all the street lamps had gone out, being replaced with the dawning sun shining in the pink sky.

'It's nice to know at least something enjoys the color pink,' Sakura joked to herself.

Sakura arrived at her Literature class with only five minutes to spare, shocking her already present class members who in turn whispered behind her back as she walked by. Sasuke was present too and Sakura noted how there wasn't a scratch on him except for hurt pride possibly, while she had gauze wrapped tightly around her head which she covered with hair to avoid questions and stares. Only limiting herself to look at Sasuke for a second to avoid the door for conversation, Sakura took her seat at the back of the classroom and took out her notebook for class. Sakura softly touched the thick wrapped cloth on the side of her head where she had been damaged the most, slightly wincing at the pain when her hands made contact. Because she was too dizzy to attempt at getting her key in the tiny lock in the dark, Sakura had resolved to kick open the basement window to her room and fell asleep immediately after wrapping her injury and shrugging out of her alcohol soaked clothes.

Now the idea of falling asleep didn't seem that bright to her considering she could have slipped into a coma and knowing her family, she very well could have died and they would only notice after of a month of eating take-out. For some reason, the thought made her want to laugh.

'Maybe I just have a really dark sense of humor.'

Eventually she'd have to replace her window or at least cover it up with a sheet or curtain, but she didn't worry over it. Again, she strangely didn't worry about anything today. Not even Kakashi, who had actually showed up on schedule for the first time in four years of knowing him or that he was going over notes at a fast pace and she wasn't paying attention or how she and Sasuke hadn't gotten much progress on their project together. She just…didn't care today.

Opening her copy of To Kill A Mockingbird under her desk to keep from plain sight, Sakura read ahead calmly without a care in the world.

It was near lunch when Sakura realized something was off.

The day had been progressing smoothly following Literature class. Sakura blew through her other two classes so fast she barely remember walking to her seat. She was sitting in Kurenai-sensei's class, Biology, when the day took a turn.

Her earbuds were in as she listened to music she wanted to rehearse to for Tsunade's annual Showcase of the Stars. Sakura was attending S&U Academy, but she wasn't cocky enough to think that meant she'd have an easy time finding work. All she had was Madara's word keeping her from being put out at any given moment and judging from the 'gentlemanly' way he'd treated her so far, that wasn't much to go off of. If only to make her feel reassured, Sakura considered it better to keep exhibiting her talents to the public as much as she could. She had been considering doing a jazz routine to mix up her style since lately she had been committing herself to perfecting lyrical numbers and of course, ballet.

Sakura copied the notes from her textbook silently, occasionally looking up to glance at the clock on the wall to time herself. It was during one time that she glanced up from her work to notice the group of students three seat in front of her had stopped chatting and were looking dead at her. She stared back in mild curiosity, then bewilderment as they held her gaze for a couple of minutes before continuing their conversation, seemingly more excitedly than before. Sakura raised an eyebrow at their behavior, but continued to work none the less. She figured they wanted to talk about her outfit or hair or whatever petty thing her peers considered important. Still, it bothered her. Against her better judgement, Sakura glanced up again and this time more people were staring at her.

'What am I, wearing a kick-me sign? And they call me the freak."

Seconds later, the lunch bell finally rang and Sakura turned in her work with haste so she could remove herself from the awkward position her classmates had put her in. She weaved in and out of the crowds until she reached her locker. Depositing her things in, she grabbed some money for lunch since she had forgotten to bring her own. Counting out the yen, she stood to side so as not to obstruct hallway traffic.

"Oh my gosh, is that her? Are you kidding me, she's not even pretty."

"Well, it's always the cute ones that have some sort of sick fetishes. Can you believe it?"

Sakura might have had her back to them, but she knew well they were gossiping about her. Her ears tuned acutely to their mockery of her appearance, hoping to get to the bottom of what was wrong with everyone today.

"No! I mean, maybe if she got some surgery or bothered to put on some make up for a change, but to think the Sasuke Uchiha would ever be into her? Hold me, I think I'm about to puke."

'Ohhhhh, so that's what this is abou—wait, what! Sasuke? What do I have to do with Sasuke?!'

Sakura pocketed her money and closed her locker, turning the dial to secure it.

"Ugh, she's just so…homely."

'Homely? Who are you calling homely? That is it!'

Sakura whirled around and unleased her wrath on them. "Don't have some puppies to kick, you witches?"

Her eyes largened at their shocked faces. She tried to repent, "Oh, I-I'm so sorry, I didn't mean I—"

"Hey, are you that chick that put the moves on Sasuke?"

A random male had snuck up behind her while she was securing her locker.

"What? No! I-I barely know Sasuke! I don't understand!"

The guy seemed confused at first, then made a knowing face at her. "Fine, Pink Freak. Play dumb. The whole school already knows anyway."

'The whole school?! I've got to get out of here and find out what's going on.'

Sakura pushed past him and ran to the cafeteria, the last remaining yen she had left falling the ground in her wake.

In the cafeteria, all of the school's cliques at their perspective tables and the eager humming of conversation as students relaxed after completing half the day's classes.

As she does daily, Ino Yamanaka sits at a table in the front of the cafeteria with Amy, Temari, Hinata, Tenten, and Karin, who is seated head of the table overlooking her flock. Conversation droned as usual as Amy went into gross detail about her exploits with the football team halfback in the backseat of his car the night previous. Hinata faintly reddened as Amy described how clear it was that the boy shaved and how he sized up compared to the other guys she'd been with. Though being in a relationship with Naruto for the past three years, Hinata's mind had never wandered to such lecherous places as Amy was describing and she would have done anything to escape the torture of having to hear anymore of it. Her silent prayers were answered when she felt something hit the back of her head and she looked down at the crumpled piece of paper. Shielding it from public view, she unfolded the paper and read the message written in it: Hinata, it's me, Sakura. Meet me in the main hallway.

Hinata thanked Kami for listening to her cry for help and hurriedly excused herself from the table to meet Sakura. Hinata came upon Sakura pacing back and forth, her pink hair slightly askew, and biting her thumbnail, looking intensely troubled.

"Sakura, are you okay? You look worried about something."

Sakura looked up at her, emerald eyes glistening with some confusion written in them, "Hinata, have you heard anything strange going around school about me? Anything that happened recently?"

Hinata knew exactly what Sakura was talking about and made a solemn face, "Unfortunately, yes, just a while ago before the lunch bell rang. I don't know everything, but…"

"But?" Sakura urged her to continue.

Hinata exhaled heavily, "There's been some talk that a fight happened last night and that you—you attacked someone on the baseball team. Then Sasuke came and—"

"I, attack him? He attacked me! What a freaking lie! Hinata, I promise you it isn't true."

Hinata smiled sweetly, "Don't worry, Sakura. I've known you long enough to know you're not like that. I just understand why people would be spreading something weird like that…from your side, what happened?"

Sakura recounted the story to Hinata, about being stood up by Sasuke, Akio and his idiot gang attacking, and Sasuke coming and helping her, though she omitted the part where she bludgeoned Akio with a textbook or backhanded Sasuke out of pure frustration (she was internally ashamed of how uncontrollable her emotions were). Once she finished, she looked at Hinata for a response, hoping she hadn't dumped too much emotional baggage on her.

"So that's what happened," Hinata's hands lightly ghosted over the bandage on Sakura forehead, "they hurt you and so you hurt them."

"It still stings and I have a headache, but nothing I can't handle," Sakura tried to reassure her, but Hinata's face held a new emotion Sakura had never seen before.

"Don't feel bad, Sakura. They deserved everything they got if they hurt you. I know this isn't proper, but…but now I want to hurt them! Come on," she grasp Sakura's hand and led her to the parking lot, "we've got to tell Naruto. He'll handle them."

Sakura gently pulled her hand away, "No, Hinata. I appreciate it, I really do, but I created this mess and I'm going to fix it. You and Naruto are the only friends I have left and it wouldn't be fair to drag you guys into this too. Tell me, can you think of anyone who knows more about the rumors, someone who knows all the insider info?"

Hinata pondered for a second and she and Sakura came to the same conclusion unanimously.

"Ino!"

Hinata stalked back into the cafeteria, hunched over, clutching her stomach and taking deep, bated breaths. Dark blue hair framed around her head, the timid girl approached her seat, crooning out, "Ino…Ino, please help."

Seeing her friend in pain, Ino rushed to her and offered support to Hinata by resting her hand on her back. "Hinata! What's wrong?"

"It must have been something I ate, I-I don't feel well," suddenly, Hinata covered her mouth as if she were going to vomit and dashed away, Ino trailing after her. Hinata ducked into the nearest ladies' restroom and Ino followed close behind.

"Hinata! Here, I'll hold your hair back so you don't get any on your clothes."

Ino approached Hinata as if to assist her when she heard a faint click as the door locked behind them. Ino turned to see Sakura, leaning on the door and an apologetic mien about her.

Ino looked back at Hinata, who now appeared to be fine except for the guilt and clear resentment written on her face. "I'm so sorry, Ino, but this is an emergency. It was the only way I could think to get you alone. Please don't be mad," Hinata said, twiddling her thumbs.

"Ugh, I can't believe this," Ino turned to Sakura, "let me out of here."

"Don't be mean to Hinata, she only did it because I asked her to. And no can do, I have a couple of questions to ask you."

"Who are you to just demand stuff from me?! Last time I checked, you're a nobody!"

"Ino, you can cut the act. Karin isn't here and I know it was you that handed me that Kleenex that day."

Ino was taken aback by the pinkette's curtness and crossed her arms, waiting for Sakura to go on.

"I need to know about these rumors that are going on about me in school. I need to know who started them (though I already have a pretty good idea) and how many people know."

Ino scoffed. "Why do you think I know all this when we haven't spoken in years. If anything, I should be asking you questions."

Sakura rolled her eyes, "Oh, come on Ino. Everyone knows you're the queen of gossip and you know everything about every one you've got to know something."

"Well what if I do, huh? Why should I tell you, so you can go off and throw yourself at Sasuke again or have him come at me looking for a fight, hm?"

"Ino, this isn't the time for pettiness! Let's get something straight here, I did not, and I repeat, did not put the moves on Sasuke! I don't know if you still like him like that since he is Karin's boyfriend, but I can assure you I am over him. I may not be the most popular, but I'm not some desperate hag looking to snag an Uchiha! You wanna know what really happened? Akio and the seven dwarfs threw vodka in my eyes yesterday, almost blinding me, and tried to put me in the trunk of their to do who knows what with me when Sasuke showed up, kicked the crap out of Akio, and they dipped like bunch of cowards. I felt ashamed of what I did to Sasuke, but now I'm telling you that I put him in his place and I'll put you in yours. Do not treat me like…like a nobody! Once upon a time, you were my friend and I'd just wish you'd treat me with the slightest bit of decency because of that fact."

Ino stared at the pinkette, mouth slightly agape, and her posture relaxed into stillness. She didn't know what to say or feel about what Sakura had said to her, she had just never thought Sakura would stick up—

"Fine, fine. I'll tell you, but only as a favor to Hinata. Naoko came into class this morning talking about how you attacked them on their way to a bar. He said you just came out of nowhere and started throwing rocks at them. When they tried to calm you down, you hit Akio and broke his nose, then somehow Sasuke came and misinterpreted what was happening and tried to fight them. Then…"

"Then…," Sakura repeated.

Ino redirected her eyes to the floor. "Then, they saw you kissing Sasuke, saying that he saved you and you were all over him."

Sakura stared at Ino for what seemed a lifetime as Hinata watched the scene unfold with disturbing precision. The three sat like that for four minutes, neither of them saying a word or daring to look the other in the at the revelation that had just occurred.

Sakura tried to comprehend what was relayed to her, but somehow it just wasn't computing. It made sense that Naoko tried to save face for Akio by lying that Sakura had attacked them and Sasuke was confused, but why would they want to drag Sasuke's reputation through the mud too. While it was true, Akio had a deep seated hatred for Sasuke, he also knew that Sasuke was the most popular guy at school, arguably the most popular person period. People couldn't believe that Sasuke would be interested in Sakura in the slightest (she had witnessed that for herself today), so why insert her kissing Sasuke into the falsified story unless it to get back at her?

Sakura broke the silence as a horrible epiphany dawned on her. "Wait, Ino…does Karin know about this, any of this?"

Ino was still gazing at the floor when she shrugged her shoulders. "No I don't think so, but it's only a matter of time before she finds out. Word is traveling pretty fast."

Clutching her hands in a fist, Hinata looked timidly at her friend. "Sakura-chan…"

The old bathroom door creaked with a loud groan as the pinkette slid down it onto the linoleum floor. Behind her green eyes there was sense of knowing, too cold and desolate to bring light to her eyes. She tapped her head against the door and said, lowly, with a somber smirk on her face, "I'm a dead woman."

The sound of computer keys clicking and constant ringing phones was alive when Madara re-entered his office floor, his black Italian leather satchel brushing against his lower thigh. The meeting with the Ishiyama clan had gone smoothly, not that he expected any less. Madara was slick in tongue when it came to manipulation, as he liked bait his target then corner them before assaulting them until they ultimately submitted to his will. The Ishiyama were one of Uchiha Corps main suppliers in steel and iron parts required for producing their staple technology. After hearing through the grapevine that Uchiha Corps had cut a competing supplier a deal for an early shipment of iron disks for the month, the Ishiyama felt threatened (and slightly offended) and called an immediate business meeting to renegotiate their contract with Uchiha Corps.

Madara, of course, didn't entertain the matter as one of serious importance; the buying and political power Uchiha Corps had was much too prosperous towards the Ishiyama for them to ever consider terminating their business arrangement. After thirty minutes of squabbling and sitting in incredibly uncomfortable chairs, Madara reminded the Ishiyama of the aforementioned fact in so many words and with tails between their legs, they decided that would keep the contract as is under the conditions that Uchiha Corps provide them with the same deal as their competitor, though only for a week.

Under normal circumstances, the Ishiyama would have never accepted the deal, but as stated earlier, he had a gift for persuasion. The entire matter seemed trifling when it was first present to him by his secretary as he was taking a call and still does now, but no matter. Madara has never been a man for cowardice or losing and didn't intend to start because some obstinate pissants felt the impending need to go a power trip. The company is growing and would continue to grow as long he was the head of the meeting table. Nothing would stop him from reaching his destiny, not matter what sacrifices he had to make.

Madara gracefully collapsed into his office chair and released an exhale of burgeoning exhaustion from his fine, moderately plump lips. Arms crossed as he leaned recumbent into the black cushioned seat, activating the tiny massagers and closed his eyes, Madara's mind drifted to more pleasurable thoughts: long, flowing rosy hair, large greens alight with innocence, a voice so clear that it could confuse passersby why the city bell was ringing at this time of day. A smile found its way to his lips at the business man drifted off into paradise.

Knock, knock. "Uchiha-sama, your 3:00pm appointment is here."

Madara violently snapped his eyes open and slammed his palm down onto his black cherry oak desk, "I am coming!"

The sound of fast clicking heels resounded from his door as his assistant scurried away, most probably in fear he would curse her. Well, she had nothing to fear, as he had too fine an upbringing to curse at a woman except when he was with…her.

"My dear cherry blossom, soon I will have you and soon I will break you."

Righteously, he stood up, then collapsed back into his chair as a shooting pain drove in the small of his back. He clutched at the area as he grit his teeth and tried to assuage the pain. Perhaps Sakura's next assignment would be to massage him, though knowing her, she'd rather sing karaoke songs denuded in the street than ever put herself in such an intimate position with him. It was a bitter truth (one in which he refused to admit at times) that Sakura wasn't as attracted to him as he would have liked, well maybe just not as nearly as attracted to him as he was to her. His attraction to Sakura (oh, how well her named rolled his tongue, Sakura) was a complicated matter as not only was Madara older and possibly more mature than the girl, but also more experienced in the areas of dating….well, in his case, Madara didn't date women more so as he sampled them.

The matter perplexed Madara ever since he had first laid eyes on the pinkette, why did he want anything to do with a high school girl? Especially, considering his previous track record with grown women, since his relationship never lasted very long and his current flings couldn't keep up with the sheer amount that Madara does on a daily basis. Sakura was filing some sort of void in his life (surprisingly, not related to sex), but he couldn't put his finger on it and lamenting on the issue was making him tense again. One thing was for sure, the girl had spunk, why she tried so hard to hide it only Kami knows, but he was determined to slowly weed it out of her, layer by layer.

Easing out of his chair slowly this time, Madara came to his feet and remembering to grab his satchel, he straightened his suit and entered the hallway out of his office. Compared to the rest of his coworkers on the same floor, the space in Madara's office almost looked like a mini apartment. He had it remolded over the summer by his personal interior decorator, taking inspiration of traditional Japanese zen decorations with rustic furniture, all of it in muted colors to fit his personal taste. He enjoyed the distant feel of it when he entered as it reminded him of his childhood home with Izuna. Speaking of Izuna, once he went back to his office he'd have to send for the pager to deliver and read Izuna's daily mail.

Madara entered the conference room with a haughty swagger, frowning upon finding that his appointment wasn't present. Instead, his teenage son was sitting idly in his father's usual seat, leafing through some sports magazine. "My dad wanted me to tell you he stepped out to take a call. He'll be back in a minute."

'Wonderful, since a minute is all it takes to fire him and hire a more competent Uchiha in his place.'

Madara sat in his usual seat at the head of the table, silently smoldering at the audacity of some of his employees. He is a busy man and apparently, the pissants keep multiplying in their journey to cause him ire. He folded his hands together calmly and simply replied, "Very well," as it would prove him great joy when his employee stepped into the room and receive the verbal tongue lashing of a lifetime for his tardiness. Again, Madara closed his eyes and tried to slip into that paradise again, if only for a few minutes.

"Hey, Shuji. What are you doing here?"

"My father has a business meeting in a few minutes and mom couldn't drive me home. I'm sick."

"Huh? You don't look sick?"

Madara heard a chuckle. "Taro, you ask too many questions. What are you doing?"

"My dad wants me to apply for this stupid internship on the second floor, said something about 'humbling me for manhood' or some crap like that. I came up here to get away from him.

'There are not two ignorant adolescents in my conference room right now. Said ignorant adolescents' father isn't late to a meeting I scheduled after having to cancel my lunch break. I am an on an island—'

"So, did you hear about what happened to Akio?"

"No, Taro. I left school early so I wouldn't have to hear for a 44th time about how many balls he can bat before the other team quits. What's the buzz?"

'I am on an island and not about to strangle two teenage, future patty flippers. Pink hair, soft lips, creamy skin—,' Madara just knew if he kept repeating his mantra, he would calm down and no one would get hurt.

"You know that freak with the pink hair? Haruno, I think her name is. Yeah, well she kicked the crap out of Akio last night. I mean you should have seen the way he looked this morning; his entire face looked like he had a fight with a shovel and lost. Everyone's talking about it."

'I am now leaving the island,' Madara thought to himself as he tuned in acutely to the boys' conversation as what he just heard couldn't possibly be true.

"Wait, what?! You mean that pink freak that's in Kakashi's class? Dude, no freaking way, you're making this up. She couldn't even attack the spitballs I shot at her that time at lunch. How could she beat up Akio?"

"Dunno, just telling you what's going around. But dude, get this. Naoko said out of nowhere Sasuke just shows up like some freaking knight in shining armor and starts wailing on them. Can you believe that? Sasuke freaking Uchiha!? This is the icing on the cake, though. Guess what Sasuke did after he beat them up?"

"What? What?!"

Shuji was excited now and waiting with anticipation for Taro to finish and unbeknownst to him as was Madara.

Taro looked at his friend with a mischievous glint in his eye and said, "You might want to take a deep breath before I tell you this."

"Dammit, Taro! Tell me."

Taro spoke slowly, wanting every word to hit Shuji like a missile, "Can you believe…that Sasuke effing Uchiha…made out with the pink freak, and I'm not talking about kissing your 94-year-old obaasan on the cheek, I'm talking full tongue-to-tongue action here—"

The two teenagers jolted when they heard the sudden crash of Madara's chair as their elder lurched at them with a malicious aura about him. Taro felt himself pushed further against the door as Madara's hand came over his chest and his superior's cold dead eyes locked with his.

"Come again? And speak quickly, boy."

"Uh, uh, I'm sorry Madara-sama. I-I didn't mean to make you mad. Me and Shuji were just having some school talk, gossip ya know?"

Madara released him and grabbed his satchel with a certain viciousness the two teens had never seen. He bolted past the two, nearly knocking Taro to the ground in his wake. He abruptly turned around, pointing at Shuji, "Tell your incompetent, jackass of a father he's fired," and spun to a terrified looking Taro, "You're replacing him."

Madara slammed the conference room door shut, causing those working in the surrounding offices to look at him with a start. His secretary went to him in an apparent rush. "Uchiha-sama, what's wrong?"

Her pleading fell on deaf ears as Madara marched right past her and into the main entry hallway. Cross, he mashed down button on the elevator panel until he heard a familiar ding as his secretary and some of his other coworkers came pouring out of their office to face the commotion. The elevator door opened and Madara strode inside, straightening his tie, as he looked out at the faces of his coworkers.

"Get back to work."

The elevator doors shut.

A/N: I think I'll end the chapter here. From what I can see its pretty long (okay, just checked and apparently 15 pages isn't that long to ) and I made a promise to a dear reviewer that I would have this chapter out by midnight and I intend to keep it. I'll update tomorrow night, though I can't promise the chapter will be as long as this one since this one was started a very long time ago and I added to it over time. So, what'd you think? I hope my writing hasn't disappointed anyone and made them feel like the nearly two year long wait was in vain. Madara has officially lost his marbles and you all will definitely see he and Sakura interacting in the next chapter tomorrow, but I warn you, it's going to be all sentimental and touchy-feely because something bad is about to happen to Sakura—again. Please review, curse at me for being a lazy writer, or whatever takes your fancy. As always, thank you for reading and loving my story and I'll see you tomorrow. Ciao!