AN: I'm busy these past few days. I'm happy that I've finished this chapter. THANKS TO MY REVIEWERS.

Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine.

Chapter 11

Another Trip to the Past

Present……………

Sasuke found himself staring at his pink-haired teammate. He couldn't help but wonder why the hell was she murmuring his brother's name. He was pretty sure that they hadn't met each other yet.

His thoughts were immediately cut off by a series of loud knocks on the door. For a brief moment, he wondered if the person on the door was an enemy but his suspicion disappeared when he heard a familiar voice from outside.

"Sasuke-teme, open this door. Hurry up!" a voice shouted from outside the door, making Sasuke more annoyed than ever. He didn't like people who order him around.

Sighing, he walked towards the door and opened it. He saw Tsunade, Kakashi and his teammate, Naruto. They all looked very serious and grave. Sasuke furrowed his brows in confusion. His senses told him that something was wrong and he didn't like it one bit.

They all went inside the room and Tsunade closed the door. She didn't want other people to hear their conversation.

The three of them gathered around her and waited for her to start talking.

"I finally found out what happened to Sakura," Tsunade began.

Past……………….

"This is weird," Mikoto said as she looked at Sakura's hopeless emerald orbs. She wanted so badly to help her but she didn't know how.

She thought that Itachi might be able to comfort her because she noticed that during the past few days, they had grown closer but he was away for an ANBU meeting.

"Do you think I will still be able to regain my memories back?" she asked with a shaky voice and Mikoto could see that she was close to tears.

She bowed her head, unable to look at her in the eyes. "I don't really know because this is the first time I've seen a case like this."

Sakura tried to hold back her tears but it was no use. She felt all alone and scared even with the presence of Mikoto and the feeling of her warm, comforting hands around her. She could feel despair crept into her heart.

"Don't worry Sakura-chan, you could stay here until you've gain your memories back," Mikoto said as she held her in her arms as if she was her own daughter.

With shaky hands, she hugged Mikoto back and leaned her head towards her chest and sobbed harder.

"Thanks…Mikoto-san," she managed to say in between tears.

However, it wasn't enough. Sakura knew that the Uchihas would never leave her alone. She could feel it in her heart. But still, she wasn't a part of their family.

And she didn't want to be a burden to them.

"You know what Sakura? I've always wanted to have a daughter but I was given two sons instead. Isn't that funny?" Mikoto tried to lighten up her mood by telling her some of the things about herself.

Sakura nodded her head against her chest, listening to what she was saying.

Present………………………..

Silence engulfed the room after Tsunade's explanation.

"Is that really possible? I find it hard to believe that her mind was in the past," Kakashi said as he bowed his head down, trying to take it all in.

"I think it's possible. After all, I just heard her saying Itachi's name," Sasuke said out of nowhere, which earned him surprised looks from the group. He couldn't blame them. He, too was surprised when he heard her saying Itachi's name.

Naruto scratched his head. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"That means she is with Itachi in the past or more likely, she's in the Uchiha household," Tsunade explained. Moments of silence followed and all of them turned to look at Sasuke who was not listening to what they were talking about because he had another thing in mind. He was thinking that if it was really true that Sakura was in the past then maybe he could also go there and see his parents alive again.

"There's only one way to help her," she stated. The Hokage's voice brought Sasuke back to reality.

"What is it? Tell us," Naruto prodded but stopped when he saw Tsunade's face with a serious look. She was always serious when it came to situations like this.

"We must penetrate the genjutsu. If we do, we would be able to go to the past and get her back."

Kakashi was still having some doubts about it. "You told us that Sakura's experiencing memory loss. Would we experience that too if we follow her? And do her parents already know about this?" he asked.

"No, because we are not directly hit by the genjutsu and about her parents, they were away for a mission so that means we have to settle this problem ourselves," she answered.

"Then Let's go and help Sakura-chan!" As usual, Naruto's voice was still full of enthusiasm.

"Wait. We still have a problem."

"What is it Tsunade baa-chan?" the blond boy immediately asked while the rest of team seven's members remained quiet.

"The genjutsu that Orochimaru used on her is very strong. And because of that, we can only allow one person to go through it."

"WHAT!" the loud sound of Naruto's voice cut through the silence.

Past……………………..

"What happened? Onee-chan, why are you crying?" little Sasuke asked when he saw her but received no answer as she continued to cry.

"Umm… Sasuke, Sakura will be staying here for a longer time," Mikoto explained as she continued to rub Sakura's back soothingly.

Sasuke smiled. "That's great, Onee-chan." He tilted his head upwards to look at Sakura, expecting to see a smile on her lips but was met by tear-stricken emerald eyes. She was still crying and this made him sad.

"Wait. I'm going to get something," he said as he went upstairs to his room.

After a few seconds, he came back with a handkerchief in hand and he handed it to the pink-haired kunoichi.

"Here, Onee-chan. Please don't cry." He smiled at her

Sakura nodded her head in gratefulness as she reached for the tiny handkerchief and hastily wiped her tears. She hated it when her weakness became visible to others.

"Sasuke, could you sleep in Sakura's room just for this night? She really needs some company right now."

"Hai kaa-san," Sasuke instantly replied.

Present………………….

"I'll go." Without thinking, Naruto volunteered himself.

Tsunade eyed him skeptically. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," he said without any second thoughts.

Tsunade bowed her head and began to think about it.

"Well…… I guess it's alright," she finally replied but there was a hint of hesitation. Sometimes, Naruto had the tendency to be careless.

"I'll go," Sasuke said out of nowhere. They all looked at him and wondered what was on his mind. Unlike Naruto, he was not transparent especially when it came to his feelings.

"But Tsunade baa-chan already allowed me to go," the blond boy pointed out but was ignored by the prodigy.

Sasuke smirked. "Anything that has to do with Itachi also has something to do with me," he simply said. He didn't like the looks that they were giving him but he just shrugged it all off as if it wasn't a big deal. He looked at the Hokage, mentally asking for her approval.

The Hokage sighed. Deciding between them was a lot harder than she thought it would be.

"I'll come back later with an answer," she calmly said as she went out of the room, leaving a stoic Uchiha, a pouting Naruto, and a grinning Kakashi.

Past……………………..

It was already 12:00 midnight and Sakura still couldn't sleep. She looked at Sasuke who was sleeping peacefully beside her with a smile plastered on his lips and wondered if he was dreaming.

Carefully, she sat up and her gaze fell on the open window, as if beckoning her to go outside.

Sakura stood up from the bed gracefully, not wanting to wake the sleeping figure beside her. She knew that it was too fast but she finally decided that she would find another place to stay. All the members of the Uchiha family were kind to her and it was tearing her apart, knowing that she didn't have any blood relation with them and yet they still accepted her.

Sakura was already outside the room when she remembered that she was still wearing her pajamas. She sighed before walking towards her room to find her training clothes. It would be easier to move when she was wearing the right clothes.

It was dark and she couldn't see anything except for the small light that was coming from one of the doors. Upon realizing that, she stopped. Why would they leave one of the doors open when they were sleeping?

She wasn't given the chance to ponder as a hand clamped over her mouth, preventing her from shouting for help. Then a second later, she felt strong hands tightened their hold on her waist. She couldn't see the person's face because she had her back on him.

"Who are you?" she tried to speak but her words were muffled mainly because of the hand that was covering her mouth and a bit because of fear. She didn't know who this person was and if she made the wrong move, he could easily end her life by thrusting a kunai into her heart. She didn't feel the stranger's chakra or hear any sound of his footsteps when he went near her. That could only mean one thing. He was a skilled ninja.

The next thing she knew, she was being pulled away from the Uchiha mansion.

Present…………………………

"What are you planning to do, Tsunade-sama?" Shizune asked.

"I don't know if I should allow Naruto. About Sasuke, well I'm afraid that he might meet his brother," Tsunade explained.

"I think it would be interesting," Shizune muttered, which made Tsunade raised a brow.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, wouldn't it be interesting if Sasuke would actually meet his brother? I mean the younger one," She answered.

Tsunade thought about it. "If that happens, there could be two possible outcomes. It's either Sasuke's hatred for his brother would grow or he would decide to stop his revenge."

"Exactly," Shizune said. She really expected that Tsunade would get her point right away.

"But, would it be really all right? I don't want Sasuke to witness the Uchiha massacre again."

Past…………………………….

Sakura tried to struggle from the stranger's hold but it was no use. He was too strong.

"Sakura, it's me, Itachi," the person said from behind and immediately she calmed down.

When Itachi sensed her relaxed form, he released his hold on her.

"You looked really afraid," he commented as he put her down.

She turned around so she would be able to face him "Of course I am afraid. I didn't know it was you."

"I apologize," he said. Sakura swore she heard his voice soften.

"It's alright."

"Now that it's settled, could you tell me why you are here? Shouldn't you be inside?" he asked but received no answer. She just looked down, unable to meet his eyes.

"I get it. You were planning on going away. Am I right?" he asked again.

Sakura slowly nodded her head.

"Why?" he asked

"Because I wouldn't want to be a burden on your family anymore," she replied as she forced herself to meet his eyes.

Itachi was a bit taken aback by her determined look. It meant that she was actually sure about her decision.

"Would it make you happy?"

"Yes," she replied without any second thoughts. Her inner-self was trying to make her change her mind but she wouldn't listen.

"You may go," he said with a tone of finality in his voice.

Sakura nodded her head in gratefulness. "I know you would understand." She gave him a fake smile. Somehow, it saddened her that he didn't even said anything to stop her.

She began making her way towards the gate when she felt him held her wrist.

"Don't go," she heard him said. She fought the urge to look back because she might not be able to leave if that happens.

"I wouldn't let you leave. Tell me. What should I do to make you change your mind? I'd do anything."

Sakura didn't replied. She just stood there, unable to say or do anything. That's when Itachi had pulled her into a tight embrace.

"Please stay," he said as he held her tight At that moment, he knew he wouldn't be able to let her go. He didn't want the only person who understood him to leave just like that.