A/N: Wow guys, consdier yourselves lucky I enjoy procrastinating but this really IS the last update for the week or else I'm gonna kill myself through a work overload. Yes the link in the last chapter was a dud. It's now on my profile page.

Thankfully we're getting somewhere with this fan fiction now, the final leg of the journey people, about 4 chapters left if I've calculated it right. Enjoy.

Rage made Naruto reckless. His hits were uncoordinated (the sedative was still in his system) and the effort that he put into his hits made his reactions slower, so Sasuke had no problems dodging them. Quickly jumping out of reach and making a shadow clone to keep Naruto busy, Sasuke began making the hand seals to teleport out. He felt terrible walking out now, knowing that running away in the face of adversity would just make his would-be-crime look worse, but felt he had no other choice. Until he could explain this mess to Naruto he was a marked man, and to get his own answers he needed to locate Karin. Naruto's red eyes constricted, seeing the final hand seal be completed whilst Sasuke's shadow clone stood protectively in front of the original. Sasuke's midnight eyes met Naruto's, pain flickering deep within the bottomless pits as the blond watched on, totally helpless. The raven haired teen shook his head very slightly, keeping their gazes locked whilst his shadow clone whispered 9 words into the blonds ear that would haunt him for many sleepless nights to come.

"Whatever you see here- It's not what you think." In the split second it took for Naruto's crimson eyes to blink, in a silent answer to the statement, Sasuke was no where to be seen. In that split second of unawareness the raven had erased himself from Naruto's life all over again for the third time.

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"Why did you disobey me?"

"I had to."

Karin's screams echoed in the depths of the cave as Sasuke's chidori ripped through her body.

"And I'll say it again. Why did you disobey me?" Karin turned her head away from the raven, and spat blood onto the stone floor, hanging limply from the cave walls by chains Sasuke had conjured in the shape of snakes.

"I couldn't allow you to be with her." she whispered hoarsely, referring to the now dead Sakura. Sasuke sneered in contempt.

"I never loved her Karin. What were you so scared of?"

"You can't know how your feelings are going to change." The girl replied stubbornly making Sasuke narrow his eyes and angry chakra flood his system. "You would have been untied in the pain after your… friends… Death. She would've leaned on you for support and your emotions would've been a wreck. Who knows what you would've done."

"That's not your decision to make." Sasuke told her fiercely, a chidori crackling in the centre of his clenched fist.

"So it wasn't yours either." Karin replied calmly, dull tired red eyes gazing at a blank spot somewhere on the opposite cave wall, but unable to prevent a second scream escape her mouth as Sasuke once again plunged the lightening bolt through her shoulder.

"They are my comrades. It is my choice as to how I shape my future with them."

"So you have a higher status than me that allows you to take their lives on a whim?" she snapped, anger giving her a little strength. "A murderer who kills once person has the same mindset of a murderer who kills a hundred. There are no differences between evil people. Me and you Sasuke, we've both done terrible things that have destroyed peoples lives, perhaps in different ways but we've still caused untold pain to God knows how many. You are no better than I am and you have no divine power over me that enables you to dictate what is the "right" or "wrong" course action for me to take."

"And yet by disobeying my orders you've left alive the one person who was your greatest threat in your quest for my love in the first place." Sasuke stated amusedly but the girl smirked, and Sasuke's twisted grin faltered.

"Do you honestly think he'll choose you now? In his eyes you've just killed the girl who he loved the most. Who he loved more than you." Sasuke flinched. "He'll hate you for the rest of your existence and the only once left for you to turn to is me." Sasuke's eyes became cold and he leaned in, titling her head to make Karin look him in the eyes, his hand gripping her chin painfully.

"O.K Karin. So let me ask you a question" he hissed, ignoring her whine of pain "after you disobeyed my orders, killed my best friend and made the person I cared about most hate me- why would I fall in love with you?!"

"You wont." she replied matter- of- factly.

"Then what in Gods name, has this actually achieved?!" Sasuke yelled desperately, flecks of spit flying into the girls face making her scrunch up her nose. Silence rang, as Sasuke's chest heaved in exertion, hatred clenching his heart, whilst ruby eyes gazed at him impassively. Karin inclined with her head for him to come closer but Sasuke raised an eyebrow, refusing point blank.

"I want to tell you something important." she whispered. "It's a secret, just between me and you." (1) Sasuke growled under his breath before leaning in close, the position reminding him of the time him and Naruto were…

"Oh yeah, I was about to kill him that time too." Sasuke realised vaguely, remembering the flash of his katana blade and Naruto's expression of determination. He almost forgot Karin was about to tell him something important.

"I seem to remember you once telling me why you wanted to destroy the thing you cared about most." she whispered, a cold feeling sinking into Sasuke's stomach. "I believe it went something like- Even if I can't have you, at least no one else will." His hand was on her throat in a flash but she did nothing except smile. "Kill me if you want Sasuke kun, just know you destroyed the only chance of love you had left." His grip tightened and she let out a faint gurgle.

"I will not end your life. That would be too kind Karin." he spat. She looked at him in confusion. "You're right, if I kill you I will destroy the only chance of love I have left." She blinked as he drew in close, a malicious glint in his cold, dark iron pits "Do you wanna know a secret too Karin? Just between me and you?" Karin tensed as he whispered into her ear. "I can see the future." her eyes widened.

"Sasuke kun?" she asked uncertainly.

"And do you know what I see Karin?" Sasuke growled, his voice laced with venom. "I can see you in a few years time, rotting away in a jail cell in Konoha prison, my name cleared of all charges, and you screaming at the silence, whist I am free to walk the streets, safe in the knowledge you and your insanity are locked up in the dark where I will never have to see your face again." the girl let out a strangled sound, that sounded like a cross between a sob and a gasp as he drew back. "And you know the scariest thing about my prediction Karin?" he asked, grinning like a madman (2) She glared at him wordlessly. "In a few days time, it's going to come true. And there's nothing you can do about it."

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A solitary Sakura flower was placed reverently on a wooden coffin, a lonely tear sliding down the petals as another shard of Naruto Uzumaki's heart shattered into a million pieces. By the side of the freshly dug grave, Lady Tsunade looked at the scene with a weary gaze, the pain of life's experience evident in her normally warm caramel eyes.

"She was 15 years old." she whispered in disbelief, choking on her words. Kakashi who was standing beside her gripped her hand reassuringly, his Icha Icha paradise forgotten, as he mourned the loss of his brilliant student. Another name to add to the list of those who died before their time. His dark eyes rested on Naruto's distant back, knowing that the hollow feeling in his own chest must feel like a mere pothole in comparison to the black hole that was consuming Naruto. Everyone who had witnessed the blonds face when he had brought Sakura's limp body to the Hokage's office would be haunted by that terrible look of grief in those empty blue eyes until the day they died. That's how they looked now. Empty. Tears spilled from ocean pools freely, but there was no emotion contained in their depths. No pain, no grief, it was all shut away behind closed doors, no doubt to be released later in the solitude of the night. Beside him stood his ever faithful subordinate Konohomaru, trying to be strong for his "nii- chan", offering the simple comfort of his company as support. But right now there was only one, only one who could make any impression on what Naruto was feeling. The one that made Naruto feel more complete than anyone else had ever done, and the same person who had had destroyed his life countless times over. He wanted to be held by those skinny yet powerful arms that gave him a promise of protection in their embrace, and he wanted to rip them off at the same time. He wanted to find solace in that murky, endless calm gaze that promised security but equally he wanted to gouge them out. He wanted Sasuke, and he also wanted him dead. He was confused and angry at his conflicting emotions, knowing that the raven should be the last one he waned to run to after what had transpired, but he couldn't kill the feelings in his heart that told him he wanted Sasuke by his side. He wanted to share his pain with the boy he had come to consider as his best friend in the whole wide world, and the one he had dedicated the majority of his life to. Naruto winced as the devious, disloyal thoughts came into his mind as he remembered how many times the ravens presence invaded his dreams and nightmares, often accompanied by the few flashbacks he could remember of that one drunken night. "But that's wrong, I shouldn't be thinking about him like this! Especially not today at any rate!" The only sign of his inner struggle was the clenched fists at his side but the omnipresent gaze of Hinata Hyuuga picked it up. The ever present blush adorned her cheeks and her hands were clasped neatly together, as she observed the inner conflict inside the beautiful blond boy. Hinata knew. She may not have shown it, but she knew what Naruto was going through. She had also been torn by her loyalties before. Wanting Naruto's happiness and knowing that she would never be the one to give it to him had hurt her deeply, making her feel even more insignificant and introverted, and even worse, it had made her unable to grow up. She had been stuck loving him for as long as she could remember (3) but seeing Naruto hurting so badly in front of her made her feel like she was so immature not to have let him go years ago. He was a wild spirit. Something her timid heart could never claim as her own. She would've felt like she was caging in an animal that longed to be free. Free with someone else. Her milky white eyes gazed longingly at his angelic form, with a shrewd feeling she knew what was on the boys mind. Sasuke. She wasn't too deeply involved in Naruto's life, but you'd have to be blind to not see the bond those two boys shared, and she knew Naruto had taken Sasuke's second defection pretty hard. Especially after the avenger had been found (according to rumours she had heard) at the scene of Sakura's death, which only raised more questions, in her mind anyway. She knew it was not her place to interfere or poke about in other peoples private affairs, but she hated to see her loved one suffering.

After the service she found the blond standing on his own by the side of the river on the bridge, and after wrestling with her shyness for a few moments, suppressed her fear and approached him. He threw a glance in her direction and then went back to staring at the river, occasionally dropping a stone into the flow and watching fascinated as it was carried away.

"H-how's the enquiry g-going?" Hinata asked him quietly. Naruto closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh, making Hinata squirm inwardly. Sadness did not suit him.

"I testified in front of old grandma Tsunade" he stated heavily. "Against Sasuke." Hinata gasped in disbelief at Naruto's actions.

"b-but you and him-"

"I know alright?!" Naruto snapped, glaring at her, making her head fall and her fingers begin twiddling together. He sighed again and put a hand on her shoulder but she flinched away "Hinata chan… Sorry. It's just I'm really uptight at the moment and-"

"No n-need t-to justify yourself." Hinata stammered, blushing. "I was r-rude to you. It's n-not your f-fault Naruto kun, especially with..." there was no need to finish the sentence because both knew who's name came after. Hinata had always been very jealous of the pinkette ever since she had fist been placed on Naruto's team instead of her, but through the years they had reached an unspoken understanding. Now she was gone… and Hinata knew she would miss her presence dearly. Naruto suddenly slumped against the railings, as if the energy had been drained from his body. He looked so tired with life.

"I didn't know what to do." he admitted, catching Hinata's attention. "It's my duty to make sure justice is done, and her killer is caught. I know that. And I know I shouldn't feel guilty about giving them information to help with the enquiry… but when I told them about Sasuke… I felt like I was the one committing a crime. Is that wrong?" he asked his voice only just above a whisper.

"Y-you did the right thing by Sakura chan." Hinata replied firmly. "Whatever you feel towards Sasuke, if you love her then-"

"But don't you see Hinata chan- that's the whole point!" Naruto exclaimed making the timid girl jump.

"I-I f-fail to see N-Naruto kun-"

"If I loved her like I've been saying for all these years, I wouldn't feel guilty about turning Sasuke in. I'd be going over there and cutting the bastards throat open myself with a kunai! Why… Why can I not stay mad at him?!" he ended the last sentence by pounding the bars of the bridge, creating a satisfying clanging sound, as Hinata looked down, her eyes strangely impassive.

"You know Naruto-kun, it's not impossible to be in love two people at once." she whispered, making Naruto freeze.

"M-me? Love Sasuke? Don't be ridiculous Hinata chan, that's-"

"Stupid? Wrong? Irrational?" she whispered, her pale eyes strangely accusing, almost challenging, and for once in his life, Naruto backed down.

"But what on Earth makes you think that me and him are anything other than-?"

"Because sometimes when you talk about him… It sounds… D-different to how you n-normally address a best friend. Y-you sound possessive s-sometimes Naruto kun. Protective." Naruto rolled his eyes.

"Exactly. He's my best friend."

"B-but you're still doubting yourself, r-right? " she asked softly. Naruto scoffed quietly and threw another pebble into the stream, relishing the splash as it ripped through the surface of the water.

"I… I don't know Hinata. I… Me and Sasuke… It's complicated. I don't know what I feel. I tried convincing myself so long ago he was a brother to me, but now I think about it, how do I actually know how you're meant to treat a sibling? I've never had a brother… And Sasuke… Sasuke…" Naruto clammed up, his face taking on an expression of excruciating pain, like a wounded animal.

"He told you he loved you?" Hinata suggested quietly, making Naruto turn round in amazement.

"… How did you-"

"Call it women's intuition." she replied smiling wryly, before turning to him seriously. "So what did you do?"

"I… I had Sakura chan to think about. I didn't want her getting hurt and I still had feelings for her-"

"So you rejected him?"

"Yeah… And then… Then he goes and does this!" Naruto half yelled in frustration and grief. Hinata tentatively massaged his shoulder

"It's O.K N-Naruto kun. Y-you c-can tell me." she soothed.

"A-and now, even after all this has happened, I can't stop thinking about him"

"It's understandable. Y-you've been through a s-shock. And after all… H-he was at the scene r-right?" her voice became hushed towards the end of the sentence and Naruto nodded. "S-so it's O.K to be thinking about him."

"Not like this." Naruto muttered darkly, "And now… Now I have these weird thoughts and feelings in me, everyone will call me a freak…" she looked at him sympathetically "Hinata- I don't want to be hated again." The girl felt a warm feeling flood her chest at the blonds words, knowing it was the first time he had confided in her about his personal life.

"Naruto kun, even if the rest of the world does, I promise I wont hate you." she replied reassuringly , a small smile on her face that Naruto suspected was fake. "Besides I always had my suspicions you and Sasuke were more than you appeared, I always ignored it of course but… I think a fair few people did." the blond paled at her words
"Others… Know?"

"So you admit it?"

"B-but it's wrong! An insult to Sakura chan's memory!"

"You can't choose who you fall in love with." she replied sadly, silently adding "I should know."

"So what should I do?"

"Do what you're best at when it comes to Sasuke kun. Find him. Get the answers you need." she told him, her voice abnormally confident. Naruto smiled at her display of empathy.

"You're a really great friend." Hinata couldn't properly smile back, but felt strangely relieved that she now had the answers she had been searching for.

"But… Don't expect it to be plain sailing…" Naruto warned "Right now I could still rip the bastard to pieces" she giggled lightly at his antics, remembering how fierce the two boys had fought back in their days at the academy.

"It's O.K. You two are forever destined to be rivals, no matter what happens between you. In fact I would think it strange if you bent over backwards in the name of love Naruto-kun. You are not one of Sasuke kun's fangirls after all."

"No. It's a whole lot more complicated than that." Naruto agreed. "And Hinata." he began more tentatively making her look up. " me and Sasuke… We haven't even sorted this out for ourselves yet, and now this whole business with Sakura chan…"

"I understand Naruto-kun, you're secret is safe with me." she reassured solemnly.

For a second both teens stared at each other, as the wind stilled and a strange feeling of finality surrounded them, like 2 lovers who were about to part ways for the final time. It provided a warped sense of unity that made them feel at ease on such a dark day.

"Arigato Hinata."

"No." she replied happily, feeling the heavy burden of 8 years unrequited love fall from her shoulders as she turned her back on him and gazed into the bright sunlight of her new future. "Thank you, Naruto kun."

(1) wow… O.O I totally went Hollywood with that line. Oh well.

(2) *shakes head in shame* so so so so OOC. Never mind, Sasuke's insane. There's the excuse.

(3) I had to bring Hina chan in *huggles her* she's too awesome and sensitive to leave out of the funeral scene.

So. Sakura's down, Hinata's out, just Karin to go and then there's no more obstacles in the way except their own stubborn feelings. *hits Sasuke upside the head*

Review please faithful readers ;P