Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.


Chapter 11

Naruto walks through Konoha.

It is a beautiful day.

Beautiful sky moving above him.

Beautiful sun shining on him.

Beautiful people around him.

He walks with an extra skip in his steps.

Everything is right in the world.

Everything except the scene in front of him. Naruto skids to a stop. The smile on his face drops. His jaw drops to the ground as well. His eyes are the size of plates.

What are two of his oldest teammates doing eating at Ichiraku with his on-again-off-again teammate's newer ex-teammates?! How dare they go out to eat without him!

Sakura is seated between Sasuke and Suigetsu. Juugo and Karin sit across from them. Karin looks a bit jealous, but she seems fine. After all, Ino had told Karin everything about Sakura and if Ino loves Karin and Ino loves Sakura, the two are definitely bound to be close friends sooner or later.

Naruto immediately turns around to go find the other missing teammate. A few minutes later, he returns with his socially awkward teammate. He also found his perverted team captain and creepy co-captain.

"What is it, Dickless, that you had to drag me out for this?"

"Such a beautiful day today…" says Kakashi.

"Must be something good," says Yamato.

Naruto places his index finger to his lips. He then points to Ichiraku's. Inside the store, seated on the table closest to the window, are the two other members of this team…with another team.

Yamato fake gasps. "Oh. How dare they!"

"I don't appreciate your sarcasm, Yamato-taichou," says Naruto. "They're eating without us!"

"Naruto, you have to realize that Sakura probably worked with them before. As a team," says Kakashi. "Well, I'm leaving." He turns around and leisurely walks away.

"As am I," says Yamato. He turns and walks away as well.

Naruto closes his eyes and sighs. They just don't understand. He looks up, however, when he realizes that Sai is still standing across from him. "I'm surprised you haven't left yet."

"To leave when someone isn't looking isn't very polite, or so I've read," says Sai. He then turns and walks a few steps. "If you're so bothered by the fact that they're eating without you, you might as well go inside and join them. You are friends with most of them, are you not?" He then walks away.

As if a light bulb suddenly lit up above his head, Naruto's lips form into a smile. He then enters Ichiraku's. He pushes Suigetsu off the seat and takes his seat. Suigetsu looks up at Naruto.

"Uzumaki!" Suigetsu glares as he stands up. He points an accusatory finger at him.

"My seat," says Naruto. Sakura looks at Naruto. He is pouting. She starts laughing.

"Dobe," mutters Sasuke.

Giving into Naruto, Suigetsu sighs as he takes the seat next to Juugo. Sakura moves his noodle bowl from in front of Naruto to Suigetsu's new area. Suigetsu nods a little in appreciation. He might have had feelings for the kunoichi before, but the feelings have since disappeared. Nowadays, he has his eyes on the quiet Hyuuga heiress – another reason Naruto gets on his nerves.

"So, Uzumaki, what brings you here?" asks Karin.

"My teammates are here," says Naruto.

"Your teammates came without you," Karin rubs in.

"Leave him alone, Karin," says Sasuke. It is now that Naruto notices Sasuke's arm stretched out behind Sakura, laying on the back of her chair comfortably.

"What is your arm doing there, Sasuke?" asks Naruto.

"It's been there for a while now," says Suigetsu, "Curious."

Sakura turns around, as if noticing his arm for the first time. She shrugs and continues playing with her food. Karin, surprisingly, isn't fuming. She isn't really looking at anyone at the table at all. Instead, she is looking up. Suigetsu as well. Hinata and her team just came in.

"Good afternoon," greets Kiba, smiling cheekily, his canine teeth baring. Did Karin just swoon? Naruto figures he must have seen wrongly. He then notices Hinata bowing respectfully at Team 7. Turning to Suigetsu, she blushes heavily and hides behind Shino. He must have looked quite murderous because gentle fingers enveloped around his wrist. Naruto looks to the side.

It is Sakura's hand.

She is worried.

Eyes softening, Naruto kicks Suigetsu under the table. Suigetsu howls in pain, surprising Team 8. Sasuke smirks in entertainment and Sakura lets go of Naruto's wrist, bringing her hand to her lips to cover her mouth as she laughs.

"We would join you guys, but it looks like you're about to be done here," says Kiba.

"We were planning on staying a while," says Karin, "Uzumaki just got here." Her voice sounds…sweeter? Naruto could almost gag. She stopped liking Sasuke for Kiba?! What? In a completely straight, heterosexual way, he knows that Sasuke is attractive. Hell, all the girls lining up for him when they were younger and nowadays were proof enough that Sasuke was and still is attractive. For her to choose Kiba over Sasuke? Is the world coming to an end?

He looks from Kiba, whose team is pulling up another table to join their tables together, to Sasuke. Then, everything clicked. Karin didn't move on from Sasuke because she found someone better. It was because she realized she couldn't compete. The way Sasuke looks at Sakura says it all. Sure, he seems to have backed off a little since Itachi has feelings for her too, but now that Itachi is engaged…what is stopping him? Itachi is out of the way. Naruto is out of the way, having gotten over Sakura a while back. No one is stopping him. Whoever still has feelings for Sakura doesn't stand a chance against Sasuke, after all.

For the rest of the meal, Naruto notices how Sasuke glances at Sakura every once in a while, as if checking to see if she is uncomfortable in any way. To see if she needs space. Thinking back, Naruto realizes that Sasuke looks less lonely nowadays. He still looked lonely even when he came back to Konoha.

As if something was missing – someone was missing.

It was Sakura.

It has always been Sakura for Sasuke.

He can't say the same about Sakura though. She hasn't looked at Sasuke the same way she used to for a long time now. She used to look at Sasuke with all the love in the world – like all the love needed to keep the world going was epitomized in one pink-haired-five-foot-three-girl. Now, all that love has been moved. Moved to his brother. Naruto couldn't even imagine all the hurt Sasuke is going through, watching her watch his brother. Naruto couldn't even imagine it. Sasuke had once had it, but he lost it. Naruto never had Sakura's affections – never the way he wanted them.

Then, a small giggle shakes him from his reverie. Hinata is laughing at a joke Suigetsu told. Realizing that he is going down the same road as Sasuke, Naruto stands up, startling everyone.

"Hinata-chan, can I talk to you?"

X

Sakura drops the parcel in her hands. Her eyes are wide from reading it. Ino walks into the room. She looks at her best friend. Rushing towards her worriedly, Ino checks Sakura for any bodily injuries.

"What's wrong, Sakura?" asks Ino, worry lacing her every word. She watches as Sakura's eyes slowly close and open, as if she is sinking from reality. "Sakura? Sakura!" At Ino's screeches, someone appears at the window.

"What's wrong?" he asks.

"Sasuke-k-kun," says Ino, "I-I don't know. I just came from the kitchen. S-She…-" Sasuke rushes forward and catches Sakura as she falls unconscious.

"I'm taking her to the Hokage," Sasuke says. He lifts the small girl up in his arms and then proceeds out the window. Ino, unsure of what to do, stands there, stunned. She looks down. On the ground is a parcel – an invitation.

You are cordially invited to attend the engagement party of Uchiha Itachi and Inuzuka Hana.

Realizing the reason why Sakura is acting this way, she quickly picks up the parcel and rushes out of the window after Sasuke. She finds herself at the Hokage's office seconds later. Tsunade is checking up on Sakura. Sasuke is standing helplessly to the side. He doesn't even look up when Ino enters the room. Tsunade looks up briefly.

"Do you know what happened, Ino? Sasuke says you were with her when he showed up," says Tsunade.

"The invitations were sent out," says Ino. She picks up the parcel and holds it out in front of her, letting her audience read the bold letters. Sasuke looks surprised.

"I'm going to go find him," says Sasuke.

"Wait, Sasuke-kun," says Ino.

"I need to talk to him," Sasuke says firmly. Ino sighs. With a wave of her hand, she tells him 'fine, do what you want.' Sasuke then rushes out the window, his preferred form of entry lately.

"Do you believe this engagement is real, Ino?"

"I'm not sure. I don't know Itachi-san well enough."

"Well, you know Hana."

"From what I've gathered, they spend a lot of time together. She devotes a lot of time to caring for him."

"So they are friends. Close friends. Do you think they are more?"

"I don't know."

"Me neither. Anymore."

"Anymore?"

"At first, I thought they were faking it."

"Why?"

"Because I know Itachi felt something for Sakura. Something strong."

"You didn't tell her?"

"I didn't want to get involved."

"This affects Sakura. You are involved."

"Exactly. I don't want the Inuzuka clan hating Sakura."

"Kiba wouldn't let that happen."

"Kiba is only an 18 year old boy. He's not the head of the clan."

"So? He will be. One day."

"Ino, I can't stop their engagement."

"Sakura's hurting, Tsunade-sama."

"I know. At first, I wanted to tell her that this engagement is fake…but I'm not so sure anymore."

"Why not?"

"I saw them kiss."

They both don't notice the tears fall out of Sakura's eyes. Her eyes are slightly open – her lashes blocking her eyes from full view. Before they can speak anymore, Sasuke arrives. He looks a little disturbed.

"What happened, Sasuke-kun?" asks Ino. Sasuke isn't looking at her, but rather, at Sakura's seemingly unconscious figure. He, however, realizes that she is awake. Without a word, he walks closer to Sakura. With one hand on her wrist, Sakura opens her eyes fully and looks at him.

"Sasuke-kun," she whispers.

"Hokage-sama, may I take her away for a little while?" Sasuke asks. Both Tsunade and Ino's eyes widen.

"W-What?" asks Tsunade.

"I'm asking your permission to take Sakura away for a few days," Sasuke reiterates.

"To where?" asks Tsunade, "I c-can't let you take her away without knowing where. She is still in danger."

"To Suna, preferably," says Sasuke. Sakura's eyes widen. After all she's done to Suna, he's going to bring her there? What is he thinking? She's going to get killed.

"Suna still isn't aware of Sakura's status," says Tsunade. "They'll kill her at sight."

"I won't let that happen," says Sasuke.

"You don't have much power there," says Tsunade.

"I won't let that happen," Sasuke repeats.

The two stare at each other.

A second passes.

Two seconds…

Five…

Thirty…

1 minute.

Tsunade sighs. "Fine. You may take her. But if anything happens to her, I will hold it against you, Uchiha." Ino stares at Tsunade in utmost surprise and outrage.

"Nothing will happen to her. She'll be completely safe with me."

"Okay." Sasuke lifts Sakura up bridal style and takes her out of the room.

"Tsunade-sama!" Ino screeches. "You can't just-"

"I just did, Ino."

"B-but-!"

"She'll be fine." Tsunade doesn't sound entirely sure.

"I'm going to find the other Uchiha and Hana," says Ino.

Tsunade doesn't stop her.

Ino finds Hana and Itachi in the park. It seems that the park is where the couple spends most of their time. Itachi spots Ino first. He nudges Hana slightly.

"Oh, Ino-chan! What brings you here?" Ino all but stomps up to them.

"How could you?" Ino hisses. She is standing right in front of Itachi.

"Wait, wait, Ino-chan," says Hana. She pushes Ino back a little. "What are you talking about?"

"You asshole, how could you do that to her?!" Ino yells.

"Ino-chan, calm down!" says Hana. Ino isn't budging. She pulls Itachi back a little. "What did he do?"

"How could you invite her to your engagement party?! Do you have no heart?" Ino yells. Itachi's eyes widen slightly. He turns and looks at Hana, whose eyes are wide as plates.

"Ino-chan, I invited her. Not Itachi," Hana says.

"Why would you do something like that?! You know how she feels about him!"

"Would you rather I didn't invite her and she found out by herself?!"

"I'd rather she have found out in a way that didn't make her unconscious!"

"Where is she?" asks Itachi.

"You are not going to go see her," says Ino, firmly. "The further you stay from her, the better!"

"Where is she?" It isn't much of a question.

"I don't know. Your brother took her." Itachi tenses up unnoticeably.

"Ino-chan, I-" says Hana. Her eyes are teary.

"Don't talk to me right now," says Ino. She shoves the invitation into Hana's hands. "We are not attending your party tomorrow." She then turns and walks away. Hana covers her face with her hands as she cries.

"Itachi, I-I didn't mean to. I really didn't," she cries. Itachi places a hand on her shoulder.

"It's fine."

"But she…And Sasuke-"

Sasuke's interruption minutes ago must have affected her more than he thought it did.

"Why?" Sasuke stands across from Itachi with just one question.

"What do you mean?" asks Itachi.

"Why are you hurting her?" Sasuke's eyes narrow.

"Who?"

"Don't pretend with me. You know damn well who."

"Sakura."

"Yes, Sakura."

"I would never hurt her intentionally."

"Then why? Is it because of Inuzuka?"

"Leave Hana out of this."

"I'll leave her out of it when you leave Sakura out of it."

"This is pointless. Leave, Sasuke." Sasuke scowls, but he leaves. Itachi looks to the side where Hana was seated, emotionless and clad in only a bathrobe. Itachi, on the other hand, is half naked. Sasuke had seen them.

"It'll be fine."

"I don't want them to hate us."

"It'll be fine."

"O-Okay."

X

She is asleep.

Again.

She hasn't spoken much since they left Konoha and now they are at an inn between Suna and Konoha. Sasuke takes the blanket from his bed and wraps it around her. He brushes some hair out of her face and sits on his bed as he watches her. She looks so at peace.

If only she always looked so peaceful.

He doesn't know when, but he eventually falls asleep. When he wakes up, Sakura is already awake. A blanket is over him. His blanket. The one he put over her the night before. Hers is still wrapped around herself as she hugs her knees to her chest.

"Their engagement party is today. You're missing it," she says. She doesn't need to look at him to know he's awake. He nods.

"Aa."

"You're missing your only family member's engagement party because of me."

"You and Naruto are my family too."

He watches as a smile lights up her face, but it disappears as fast as it showed up.

"Why are you taking me to Suna? They're going to kill me."

"You tried your best not to kill their people."

"But I still killed."

"We're all shinobi. We've all killed."

"I killed senselessly."

"Like many others."

"I just want to know why you're bringing me to Suna."

"Because you deserve to be forgiven."

"No, I don't."

"It's the only way that you'll get better."

"I don't need to be fixed, Sasuke." She looks at him for the first time since he woke up. Her eyes are darker again – clouded over. "This is who I am now."

"Who? This depressed, barely living person? The Hokage won't even send you out on a mission. Ino can't stay by your side forever. Naruto either. We can only be by your side for so long before we're sent on missions. You need to get better. You need to find yourself again."

"And who is that? The annoying girl who was so deeply and frustratingly in love with you? Is all this for me or for you? You can't take the fact that I like your brother, am I right? Because if I stop loving him, you can have everything you used to have back!"

Sasuke pauses for a few seconds. He then stands up and walks out of the room, slamming the door behind him. After he leaves, Sakura buries her face in her hands. She hadn't meant to say all those things. She hadn't meant to hurt Sasuke. She hadn't meant to question his motives like a cynical lunatic.

Now she's alone again.

Like karma, visions of the past year flow back to her. Kabuto's incessant voice. His touches. His pulling. Sakura begins clawing at her own arms again. Thumping her legs up and down as if it would hurt Kabuto's memory. Screaming, as if it would keep him away.

"Get away from me!" she screeches. "Help! Help!"

No one comes. Like always. Like every time before this one.

"I can make it all go away, Mana. Just do everything I say." Sakura shakes her head viciously. "If you change your mind, you know how to reach me."

Madara's voice. It is a memory from when she was still held captive. From right before Naruto, Sasuke, Sai, Shikamaru and Neji found her. It wasn't just coincidence that caused Madara, Kabuto and everyone important from Sound to go missing right when they found her.

He can make it go away. Before she can lift her sleeve, a knock sounds on the door.

"Hello? I heard screaming. Is everything okay in there?" A civilian, no doubt.

"Everything's fine. Thank you!" Sakura says. Her voice sounds foreign to her. So normal. So…fake. She pauses and listens to the civilian's retreating steps. With confirmation that the civilian has left, Sakura continues to lift her sleeve. Everything seems to be going in slow motion. She prepares a little chakra in her finger. Ready to press it to her wrist. But, suddenly, the door opens. It isn't Sasuke.

"No way…" Realization hits her. Pink hair. Green eyes. "The bastard made a clone of me?!"

"Calm down."

"What? W-Why are you here?"

"Because if you call Madara here, you are going to die."

"How did you-"

"Because I know when you're feeling destructive. Kabuto made sure I would know when you go crazy. He needs you alive."

"The sick bastard wants me alive?! For what?"

"He says he misses you."

"Oh my god. Ew! Does he…Does he touch you?"

"No. He sees me as his daughter." She seems confused.

Sakura suppresses her need to gag. She looks at her clone. She's completely emotionless.

"You're…different from me."

"He didn't want a complete clone. Just a stronger one. More efficient, were his words."

"So…what are you doing here?"

"Kabuto told me to make sure you don't get yourself killed."

"So what are you doing here?!"

"You were about to call Madara. He sees no need for you anymore. What with my creation and all. He'd kill you. I'm supposed to prevent you from dying. Kabuto says he'll be back for you."

"Tell him to fuck himself."

"I can't do that. He's my master."

"Oh my god," Sakura buries her face in her hands. "So what are you still doing here?"

"Your reaction to me is very amusing." Why does this clone remind her of someone else?

"Leave!"

"Don't call Madara."

"Okay, just leave!" Her clone smirks and leaves. The thought of destroying her clone doesn't cross her mind at all. Sakura lets out a feral scream. Things are just falling to shit. And that shit keeps hitting the damned fan.

She gets up and picks up the lamp on the nightstand. She chucks it to the wall across from her, effectively destroying the lamp. She picks up her blanket and hurls it towards the window. She picks up her pillow and does the same. She continues her destructive spree for a few minutes more before she collapses on the floor next to her bed, her head laying on the bed and her arms sprawled out on the bed. She looks pathetic, but she doesn't care.

X

Sasuke walks to the door of the motel room. It has been two hours since he left for his walk. He tries to stick the key into the keyhole, only to find out that the door is unlocked. He gets a bad feeling in his gut. He walks in a little.

"Sakura?" He unsheathes Kusanagi after milliseconds of no response. Panic reaches him as he sees the disaster that is the motel room. After passing the small hall area that is the entrance to the room, he reaches the bed area of the room. He finally spots the pink-haired figure half on the ground and half on the bed. He drops Kusanagi and rushes to her side.

"Sakura?" With one hand on her shoulder and one hand on the back of her head, he lifts her upper body so he can examine her face. Her eyes are closed. She is asleep. And unharmed. He lets out a breath he didn't know he was holding. He wraps his arms around her shoulders and hugs her to him. He listens to her almost inaudible breathing. It tells him that she's alive. And that soothes him.

He isn't sure how long he sat there with Sakura in his arms, but he eventually gets up and lifts her onto his back. It's time to set out again. On the way to the door, he picks up Kusanagi and sheathes it. He then walks to the reception table and sees the civilian owner.

"You might want to see the state of the room first before charging me," says Sasuke. The confused civilian sends his nephew or somebody to see the room. A few seconds later, said underling comes back in shock.

"Everything's destroyed!"

And that is how Sasuke gave away most of the money he brought on this small travel.

X

"Sorry, Sasuke-kun," she whispers in his ear. When did she even wake up? "I can walk."

"No, it's fine."

"I didn't mean what I said."

"I know."

"Sorry."

"Aa."

"Sorry."

"Stop, Sakura."

"Okay." Sasuke feels as she hides her face a little behind his shoulder; however, as if an idea just hit her, she lifts her head a little again, so that he can hear her clearly. "You're not going to ask about what happened?"

"Would you tell me if I did?" She hides behind his shoulder again. "I thought so."

"Sorry," she mumbles.

"I know you, Sakura. You'll say something when you're ready."

"Thank you, Sasuke-kun." She pauses. "You're right. I need their forgiveness."

"It's not going to be easy."

"I know." Sasuke realizes that Sakura is shaking slightly. "I'm just cold, it's nothing."

"You're scared."

She pauses. "...They're going to kill me."

"I'm not going to let them do that."

She pauses again. "Thank you, Sasuke-kun. For everything."

He doesn't respond. Instead, a small smile finds its way to his face.

X

Naruto walks through the town, as usual. He spots Ino. He rushes up to her.

"Ino! I've been looking for you everywhere!"

"What is it?"

"Have you seen Sasuke?"

"He left with Sakura yesterday."

"What? Where? Why?"

"Uhhh…I don't know. I'm not sure…I think Suna. And I don't know why."

"He took her to Suna?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"I don't know."

"Granny let him?"

"Yeah."

"What is he thinking? They're going to kill her!"

"Sasuke-kun said that he won't let that happen."

"What can he do to stop them from doing it to her? He is only a little better than her."

"Believe in him. He doesn't do unnecessary things and he definitely doesn't do things he knows he can't handle. Everything will be fine."

"You sound like you're trying to convince yourself."

"That's because I am still trying to convince myself."

"We're following them."

"What? Naruto, we can't."

"We are following them. I'm not losing my team again."

Ino sighs. "Fine. We're bringing Shikamaru and Sai though." The two start hopping on roofs towards the Hokage tower. "They'll be good."

"Sai's on a mission."

"Oh. Okay then."

After seconds, they bust in through the window.

"Baa-chan, I'm going to Suna!" says Naruto.

"It's not that we don't trust Sasuke-" Ino starts. She stops when she sees the older Uchiha in the room. He seems composed, but Hana has told Ino some of Itachi's tells. Itachi isn't happy.

"I'm going," he says, looking at Tsunade.

"No you're not," says Ino. "You have no right to be around her right now. Besides, your engagement party is today, if I'm not mistaken!"

"Stay out of this," says Itachi, glaring at her.

"I'm not going to stay out of this. Sakura is my best friend. All you do is hurt her," Ino says, not flinching at the stone cold glare. She stops herself from taking a step back when Itachi's onyx eyes bleed red.

"Uchiha!" says Tsunade, intervening. "Do anything to Ino and I will make sure you never even lay eyes on the outside world ever again." Itachi glares at her, then, his Sharingan disappears.

"I apologize," says Itachi, "That was completely out of character."

"Yes it was," says Tsunade. "Naruto, you are not going after Sasuke. He'll be fine. He agreed to send me letters over their progress. I understand his motive for bringing Sakura to Suna and I agree with him. I hadn't thought about the possibility of bringing her to Suna, but Sasuke has brought it to my attention that it is a great idea. A great help to Sakura. So leave it alone."

"Why?" asks Itachi.

"This has nothing to do with you," says Tsunade, "Since you are done with your business, you should leave." Itachi glowers at her. "Leave, Uchiha Itachi." Itachi bows and leaves.

"He's troublesome," says Ino.

"Yes, he is…only when it comes to Sakura. He's normally very obedient. Very loyal," says Tsunade, staring at the door Itachi exited through seconds ago.

"So why?" asks Naruto.

"Sasuke says that she needs to be healed at the place she hurt the most," says Tsunade, "After all, she did almost ruin our alliance with Suna."

"Sakura never had that much of an attachment to Suna though," says Ino.

"Suna ninja were Sakura's first murders," says Tsunade, "Sakura is kind. Even without her knowing, it is probably eating at her from the inside out. She values family. She knows deep inside that the ninja she killed have families. Those families probably hate her. She needs to be forgiven in order to move on."

"And Sasuke thought of all this himself?" asks Naruto.

"Yes," says Tsunade, "It surprised me to say the least."

"Ditto," says Ino. "I didn't expect him to think of something like that."

"He knows how it feels," says Naruto, "To be hated."

"Sorry, Naruto, I should have sent you with them," says Tsunade.

"No, it's fine," says Naruto, "I think…that they need to face this with each other. Only Sasuke can help Sakura here. After all, he already did it before."

"You were with him, though," says Ino.

"Doesn't matter," says Naruto, "He'll get through it…He'll get Sakura-chan through it."

"So I take it as you guys aren't going after them then?" asks Tsunade.

Ino looks to Naruto. It seems as if Naruto has figured it out. Naruto shakes his head. Tsunade nods, understandingly. "Okay. Then, I'm assigning you guys a mission."

"What? Us two?" asks Ino.

"Yes. I need you guys to watch over Uchiha Itachi," says Tsunade. "Make sure he doesn't go to Suna."

"Okay," says Naruto.

"Isn't it strange, Tsunade-sama?" asks Ino. "He's so…worked up."

"That's why I thought the engagement was fake," says Tsunade.

"Well, we'll get to the bottom of this," says Naruto. Ino nods in agreement.