Hey Everyone! I'm back! I just wanted to say how happy it makes me that you are enjoying my story. I do hope that this chapter is up to your satisfaction. Recently all my chapters have been inspired by music or beats of music. This one was inspired by the song "When it rains" by Paramore. Anyways, Ladies and Gentlemen…Chapter 12.

Chapter 12: When It Rains

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

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"AHHH"

Screams could be heard again, but the only difference was that it was coming from the enemies' mouths.

"What the hell is going on?" screamed Orochimaru as fire like balls came down from the sky in different directions.

Sasuke was equally confused. He frantically searched for another enemy, yet could see nothing. He looked up again and noticed that the fire balls that hit the shield bubble would disintegrate.

'The shield is still up'

"What the hells going on?" Naruto yelled.

"Who's doing this? Are we being attacked by another enemy?" said Shikamaru.

"No…" Itachi began, "It's not an enemy" a smile spreading across his face. "You could say they… are allies"

"Our Allies?" Naruto questioned. Itachi didn't move. Naruto looked at Sasuke for some sort of explanation but only received a confused shrug as his response.

The fire balls suddenly stopped but the fire that it created, continued.

"Do you feel that!" shouted Itachi abruptly, looking towards the eastern side of the village.

"They're here"

Sasuke quickly looked in the direction his brother was. "Who?" he thought out loud.

"They are" he replied pointing towards the fire that was burning furiously. Sasuke and the rest tried to look but they couldn't see what Itachi was seeing.

"I don't see anythi…"

There…he saw it. A shadow. Not just one, but four. Sasuke couldn't breathe. 'Could it be?'

The shadows looked as if they were walking through the fire, for they looked as if they were coming closer to them. They, suddenly, one of the shadows broke through and looked as if it flew up into the air but only to realize it was a powerful jump. All to quickly, the remaining three jumped up into the air as well. As Sasuke looked up, he realized that the shield bubble was gone.

The four "shadows" landed so hard on the ground that dust flew up and surrounded them. The wind suddenly blew, clearing the air, and before them stood none other than the princess and her guardians, each with a dead look on their faces as they looked at the snake whose confused face turned that of amusement.

Hinata then slowly raised her hand above her head and made a swish motion with her hand. A strong wind came rapidly and put out the fire. Once everything was cleared, she lowered her hand and continued to glare at Orochimaru.

"Well, isn't this a sudden turn of events" he said. No one moved.

"So…are you ready to join me, princess?"

A snort was heard from the blond guardian. "You're stupid if you think she'd even join you"

"I was not talking to you!" he snapped.

"You will not talk to her in that manner"

"OH…Finally, she speaks, and wow, I must say…your voice has changed to match your beauty, princess" Sakura just glared at him with disgust.

"I don't see what the big deal is princess, why not join me?" he said sweetly.

"Don't make me puke, you monster. You're one sick bastard to think that'd I'd ever join you! I will never forgive you for what you did to me and my family."

Orochimaru sneered. Damn she sure did know how to keep a grudge. "Look Princess, if you know what's good for you, you'd reconsider"

"I'm not afraid of your threats. I'm not that same 8 year old girl anymore, if you haven't noticed. I will not let you destroy Konoha"

"How can you defend them? Look at how they treated you?"

Konoha flinched as they remembered.

"They are innocent. They didn't know the truth. It's not their fault for what happened 10 years ago. They don't need to suffer just because they just don't understand. I won't let them fall the way my kingdom did"

Orochimaru just stared. This really wasn't the way things were suppose to happen. She needed to be so hurt that she would want to hurt them. This angered him greatly. He needed to re-group. He thought as he saw most of his men either dead or injured due to the battle and the stupid fireballs. He needed a back-up plan. He already had one but he couldn't go through with it now. No, it would be smart to retreat…for now.

"I advice you to think it over princess" he started

"I'm not going to waste my time" she interrupted. Orochimaru angered more and clenched his fists.

"Don't upset me princess, you don't want a repeat of what happened before"

She snorted. "Didn't you listen earlier…I'm not afraid of you or your threats. You will never control me like before"

"I may not be able to control you in that manner but I promise you there are other ways in doing so" he smirk evilly. "But for now, I must bid you farewell"

"Wha?" Sakura heard Naruto say.

"Let me warn you…" Orochimaru stated to all Konoha, "You haven't seen the last of me" and with that he disappeared in a cloud of smoke. When it cleared, every enemy alive was gone. No one moved. Sakura and the girls just stayed put, giving their backs towards Konoha.

Sasuke and the guys just kept their eyes on their girls. They didn't know what to say, how to start…how to apologize.

"GIRLS!!" a shout was heard. Quickly, they saw the girls turn at the urgency of the female voice that came from the crowd. The guys turned as well into the crowd and saw Hitomi along with Kouichi making their way to them to them. The girls, with tears in their eyes, sprang to them and embraced them. Hitomi showered them with kisses and hugs.

"I missed you girls so much" Hitomi cried.

"We are so happy that you are ok" Kouichi agreed.

"We missed you so much too" they cried together. Konoha just watched in guilt as the family reunited.

"Sakura" They were suddenly interrupted by Tsunade's voice. Slowly, they let themselves go and Sakura made her way to her, her guardians close behind her.

"Sakura…Princess…"

"Don't.." Sakura interrupted her. Tsunade looked up at her. Sakura was smiling at her. Tsunade's eyes watered up.

"Oh Sakura, we are so so sorry" she cried "We had no idea…we were so stupid" Sakura hugged her and Tsunade cried even harder.

"It's ok Tsunade, trust me, It's ok"

At those very words, Sasuke remembered his brother's words. He had told him the same thing. He turned to look at him quickly before looking back at his princess.

"But …but we were so cruel to you" Tsunade continued. "Yea" all of Konoha replied, "We're really sorry" many began to shout out. Sakura had to smile. She was glad they were able to make it on time. They almost hadn't but the explosions were what alerted them.

"Konoha, really, we hold no hard feelings for any of you"

"Yea" Ino agreed. "You didn't know. We can't hold that against you"

"We're just glad we made it on time" chimed in Hinata while the rest nodded.

"Yea the explosions took us completely by surprise" Tenten said.

"Well we're glad that you were able to come, I had actually begun to sweat" Itachi's voice said. Sakura smiled at him . That's when she saw HIM next to him. Her heart sped up. She made her way over to where he stood and the rest of the guys.

"You guys did well" she said as she stood in front of him but his gaze was to the floor. Sakura really wanted him to look at her. She wanted to get lost in his eyes once more.

"Thanks" Naruto replied for them, shyly, all the while gazing at her guiltily. Sakura rolled her eyes in frustration.

"Stop it" she ordered, the authority in her voice made each of them look at her, including Sasuke. Their eyes met. She wanted him to understand that she forgave him.

"I want you all to stop acting the way you are" she said, "I don't want any of you acting with guilt towards me nor my guardians! We don't need it! We don't want that!"

"Exactly…we didn't come back to help so that you can feel bad about it" Hinata said softly as she made contact with Naruto.

"Hinata…I…"

"Naruto, I forgive you" she smiled at him. "Does that help?" He slowly nodded and quickly pulled her into his arms. "I've missed you so much, you have no idea" he whispered into her hair, making her blush in the process.

Before Sasuke knew it, Shikamaru and Neji grabbed their girls and hugged and apologized to them as well. The crowd applauded at the display of affection between the guardians and their loves.

Sakura smiled at the loving sight. She looked at Sasuke longingly and saw that he, too, was looking at them, smiling. She really hoped he could take her in his arms and kiss her senseless. She longed for him. She looked down when he just continued to look at their friends.

"You did well princess" she heard Itachi say. She looked up and stared at him. His eyes showing sympathy as if he knew what she really wanted at the moment but wasn't getting. She kindly smiled at him.

"Thank you Itachi" she said sincerely, "for everything…for your support and advice... thank you"

"It was my pleasure"

Sasuke turned to stare at them. A strange feeling taking over him. What was this feeling? He saw the way they were looking at each other.

'Am I jealous?' he shook his head roughly. He couldn't think like this.

"We need to be prepared for him now" Sakura said loudly. "We don't know when he is going to attack again"

"We're with you princess!!!" she heard someone from the crowd yell as many others began to agree.

Sakura smiled. "Arigato"

"What do you suggest we do?" Tsunade asked. Sakura shook her head "No, what do YOU suggest we do, Hokage"

Tsunade was taken aback. "But…but you're the princess…"

"Who has no kingdom. All I have is a stupid title. Here I'm not a princess. I'm just Sakura"

"But…"

"Please, restrain yourselves from calling me princess. Please, don't give me any special treatment that I will not tolerate."

Hesitantly, Tsunade agreed. "Alright…Sakura" and they smiled.

"Rain's coming" Hinata said all of a sudden. Every eye turned to look at her weirdly.

"What?" She said innocently. Sakura and the rest of the girls just rolled their eyes and laughed. She certainly hasn't changed.

"We better listen, she's never wrong"

"Oh…well then, I suggest everyone return to their homes and remember to be on the alert. We can not be in peace knowing this monster is on the loose" and with that everyone went their separate ways just as it began to drizzle.

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The rain came down hard. It washed all evidence of the earlier battle. Sakura found herself in her home, with her family. She was happy. She truly was, except for one tiny thing…Sasuke. He didn't even look at her earlier. She just couldn't help but feel saddened by that. She remembered earlier when she had told him to kill her. She wondered if he wondered why she changed her mind in coming back.

'Oh Sasuke…why didn't you just take me into your arms the way the others did to their girls.' She thought. 'Why don't you love me like I love you? ... I mean, how can I not love you? You're my everything. ' She went to sit by the window and see the rain fall gloriously. She saw some children playing out in the rain, laughing all the while. She couldn't help but smile. She remembered her and her guardians as they use to do that in Inuk. How she missed those days. She closed her eyes and pictured her kingdom. The radiant beauty illuminating as the sun would set. How she loved it. She then pictured her mother and father. How she missed them. She wondered if they could see her now. How she's grown. She remembered the day her mother got angry at her for saying a bad word and then getting after her father for showing it to her. She laughed quietly.

"What's so funny?"

Sakura jumped up slightly and turned to face Hitomi. She smiled at her as she sat down next to her.

"Oh nothing, just remembering past times…the good ones" she smiled again.

"Really? That's good." Hitomi began, "So, who would have thought that the little girls that my team found was the princess of Inuk and her guardians. WoW"

"Yea…who would have thought that" Sakura said as she looked at Hitomi. "but you know what…"
"What?"
"I'm glad that it was you that found us that day and no one else." Hitomi smiled. "Me too"

"What are you guys talking about?"

Hitomi and Sakura turned to see Kouichi with the girls at the doorway of the living room.

"Oh nothing, Sakura was just remembering some good o' times" The girls faces lit up suddenly.
"Which ones? Was it the one where we were playing hide and seek?" said Hinata.
"When we jumped on the beds when we were not suppose too?" Tenten stated excitedly.
"Or was it when they made you dress up for that stupid portrait" Ino teased. Sakura glared and the rest of the girls laughed at the memory. Then Sakura's head popped up. The portrait.

"Hey…where is that portrait? Does Tsunade still have it?" Everyone shrugged. "I don't know" said Hitomi. "I think she does. Why don't you go and check… well, you can go after the rain stops." Sakura smiled wickedly.

"I don't have to wait until it stops and I don't need an umbrella either"
"Wha?...What do you mean?" Hitomi said as Sakura stood up and made her way towards the door. Once open, she stepped out and Hitomi's eyes widened as she saw the rain hit a sphere like bubble around her.

"You're the one who was doing the sphere?!?!" Sakura laughed and nodded.

"It's one of my powers. Well, I'm off. Girls…are you all doing anything later on today?" They each shyly nodded. Sakura smiled knowingly.

"You know, I don't know if I agree with all of you having boyfriends" Kouichi said fatherly.

"Aww, c'mon dad!" Then Kouichi smiled. "Don't worry, I know that you are capable of taking care of yourselves. Ok, I approve." They ran to hug him tight and he laughed as they fell unto the couch. Sakura laughed.

"Ok…bye…see ya later and remember, be on your guard"
"Hai!" they all replied.

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"So…how long are you gonna go without looking me in the eye?"

Sasuke turned quickly at the sudden voice. He saw Itachi's amused smile knowing he had surprised him.

"I…I don't know what you're talking about"
"Sasuke…don't act stupid" Sasuke just looked away again.

"See…you can't even look at me for a whole minute without feeling the guilt, can you?" Sasuke didn't turn. His brother was right. He just couldn't forgive himself for hating him so much all these years.

"Sasuke, I'm not mad at you" He walked towards him and placed his hand on his shoulder. He was happy when he didn't shrug it away. Good, progress.

"Well you should be!" He said angrily. "I've wrongfully hated you for the past 10 years. All I could think about was on my revenge…on how to kill you. I would get angry when they would even mention your name. And then, to find out it was all that bastard's fault who made you do it. How do expect me to feel? How can you want me to just forget I ever thought horrible thoughts about you and the princess"

Itachi looked down but didn't remove his hand from his shoulder. "So that's what it's also about"

"huh"

"Don't you 'huh' me boy, you know very well what I'm talking about….Sakura" Sasuke's eyes widened. He turned to look at Itachi as he shook his jaggedly.

"What are you talking about?"

Itachi smirked.

"Don't play dumb with me little brother" he said, "I know that you are in love with her" Sasuke just stared at him. He was in awe how Itachi could so easily forget everything that's happened in the last 10 years and tease me about a girl! Wait…Did he…like Sakura too?

"What about you?"
"What about me?" Itachi asked confused.

"Oh come on…" Sasuke said finally facing him. "You love her too" Now it was Itachi's turn to be shocked, his eyes widening. 'Is that what he thinks?' he laughed inwardly.

"Uh…no. At least not like that Sasuke"

"Whatever…I see how you looked at her earlier on…and I remember…I remembered that day when the killings happened…" he turned away not wanting to see Itachi's face "I remember when you told me that you couldn't get that girl that we had seen in the palace out of your mind. You liked her just like I liked her."

Itachi didn't know what to say. He processed the information carefully. He couldn't quite remember what he had said that day but he was pretty damn sure it wasn't about being in love. Then it hit him. He WAS talking about Sakura but only that he had seen her mark and was dwelling on that the whole week. Did Sasuke mistake that as love? Again he wanted to laugh but held it in for Sasuke's sake.

"Sasuke, I'm only going to say this once, and I hope you believe me." Itachi began. "I wasn't talking about Sakura in the romantic way. I was talking about Orochimaru's mark that I had seen on her when we had visited the royals. It had been on my mind and well I just couldn't get her out of my head because I wanted to know how that had happened to her."

Sasuke remained silent. 'So he doesn't love her like that' Sasuke felt a huge relief wash over him.

"Better now?"

"Hn"

Itachi laughed. He couldn't help it. His brother sure was a silly one, even if he acted all macho man. Sasuke looked at him as if he had grown an extra head.

'What's wrong with him?' he thought.

Once Itachi calmed down, he went to sit in the couch near the door.
"So, tell me, what are you going to do about Sakura?"

"What do you mean?" Itachi gave him a look.
"You know what I mean…when are you going to tell her how you feel?" Sasuke flushed.

"Never"

"And why's that?" Sasuke looked down.
"I just don't think she should forgive me. I treated her so badly and said things I didn't mean"

"So?"

Sasuke looked at Itachi incredulously. Was he being serious? Or was he just being stupid?

"What do you mean 'So'? I don't deserve her!"

"OH…you're right, if you don't deserve her, then that means Orochimaru gets her then…right?"

Sasuke glared at his brother. The mention of Orochimaru and Sakura together angered him to the core. He would never allow Sakura to end up in the hands of that monster.

"That is not what I meant"
"It sure sounded like that to me. The way I see it, due to the prophecy. Her destiny…is you Sasuke, I'm sorry if that disappoints you in anyway but that's the way it is. You are the source and even if you weren't, you would have still fallen in love with each other"

"How do you know that?"

Itachi smiled. "Because some people were meant to be together even without the help of a prophecy."

Sasuke looked out the nearest window. Sakura and him belonged together?

"You love her" Itachi stated. "Tell her"

Sasuke shook his head in defeat. "I just can't. I don't know anything about being a boyfriend nor having a relationship. I need to be all romantic and lovey-dovey and that's just not me" he said frustratingly. "I would bore her in a week."

Itachi laughed. "Sasuke, trust me, you would not bore Sakura. I think there are ways you can keep her very satisfied. And if you haven't noticed, you don't need to be romantic with her, you just need to be WITH her. That's all she wants"

"What do you mean that's what she wants…how do you know"
"I can't say, all I know is that I'm right"

Sasuke stared at Itachi for a moment before turning back to the watery window. "No Itachi, even if I want to…I can't allow her to be with someone like me"

"Why? How are you so horrible? Just because you blamed her for something that you had no control in believing because if that's the case, you will lose her forever if you don't get over it. I'm telling you because you're my brother and I …." He paused for a moment before continuing. "I love you" Sasuke looked shocked at his brother. He couldn't believe his ears.

"How can you?"

"I've wanted to tell you that since forever but I just couldn't bring myself to tell you since I was the serious older brother when we were younger. I wanted to tell you even after the whole murders but I knew how you felt and I had to hold myself from coming to your rescue if you ever needed help. You're my brother Sasuke. The only one I have left."

Sasuke couldn't move. He didn't know what to say. He looked down overwhelmed by emotion. Then he looked back up to his brother.

"I…I love you too, brother" Itachi smiled at him and walked to him. He quickly pulled him into a hug before the moment left them. But Sasuke broke down, crying, for the first time in a long time.
"I'm so sorry…I didn't know…I missed you and I couldn't believe it at … first but I just…I don't…even…know what to…say…" Itachi hugged him tighter. He, too, was crying. He surely had missed his brother dearly.

"Sasuke, we have each other now, You'll always have me as your brother." He said pulling himself away from him. "But I want you to be happy with the woman you love. I'm not just saying that because you're the source or anything but because I know that you are in love with her. And for you to be in love… well that just a miracle Mr. Iceberg"

"She'll reject me"

Itachi shook his head. "No Sasuke, I don't think she will…go to her…right now"

With new found confidence, Sasuke nodded and ran out in the rain to take what was rightfully his.

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Sakura walked quietly down the muddy streets of Konoha. She would say hi to the children playing in the mud as well as their parents who would scold them for becoming dirty. She was almost to Tsunade's office. She turned to the side and noticed that she was passing her favorite place in all Konoha…the bridge. Smiling to herself, she made her way over, deciding that she would only be a minute. I mean, it's not like if the Hokage is going anywhere, right? Right!

She leaned on the side of the bridge and peered down at the water. She couldn't see her reflection due to the splashes of the raindrops but she didn't care. Sakura thought of everything that happened again. She was happy to be home. She really was. She inhaled deeply; she loved the smell of rain.

She sighed. Sasuke appeared in her mind again. In fact, he hadn't left. He was like a drug that was constantly plaguing her. Why can't he just allow himself to be happy? Why couldn't he see that she forgave him? That she wanted to be with him and only him? What was so hard about it?

"Sakura?"

Sakura was jerked out of her daydreams of Sasuke, only to be met by him instead. Sakura's breath got caught in her throat as she saw how the rain didn't help his appearance. He looked like Adonis himself. Her heart felt as if it were going under an attack. She noticed how his hair and clothes stuck to him like second skin. His deep blue eyes boring into hers. He looked like a predator and she was his prey.

"Sasuke…" she whispered faintly. He didn't move. He just continued to watch her.

"Sasuke, I … I just…"

"Don't Sakura, don't even apologize"

Sakura shook her head "I have to…for our argument earlier on today. I was just upset."

"Sakura, please…let's not even go there. Or have you already forgotten all the things I said about you these past ten damn years! I'm the one that needs to apologize…not you"

Sasuke sighed. He couldn't understand why she felt that she needed to apologize. Where would she get something like that?

"Can't you see how bad I've wronged you, Sakura? Why can't you understand that?"
"Sasuke…you didn't know…you can't blame yourself for always thinking the way you did. You…we were victims in the monster's scheme. He ruined us."

Sasuke didn't want to hear any of this. He didn't like the fact that he was tricked by this low-life bastard. He didn't comprehend how his brother and Sakura were so easy to forgive and he wasn't. He didn't like it. He felt that he needs to be punished for every single thought and curse that he ever made of them both.

"Stop it Sasuke"

Sasuke looked up slightly, shock shown clearly across his face. Sakura looked determined as ever.

"I can see what you're doing. Don't you dare read too much into this. I forgive you…for everything. Can you forgive me?"

Sasuke huffed. "Forgive? … How can you forgive me so easily, Sakura? And how can you ask for my forgiveness when you haven't done anything wrong. I'm sorry Sakura, I really don't know what to think of this. Maybe you an forgive me, but I can't forgive myself. Especially not after finding out the truth about you and Itachi. I deserve Itachi's hate. I deserve your hate."

"Stop it! Stop it!" Sakura shook her head violently. "Don't be so stupid Sasuke! Why do you decide to suffer when you don't need to? Why can't you just accept my forgiveness?!"

"Because I don't deserve it! That's why! I hate it Sakura. I hate the weak feeling I feel when I think of what you and Itachi went through and not being able to do anything about it." He clenched his fists at the thought. He needed to make her understand.

"No Sasuke, you just want to be hated because it's the easy way out."

Sasuke eyes widened at the statement.

"You're afraid of the feeling that happiness will bring. You're just afraid, that's the bottom line"
Sakura turned to look at the river below the bridge. She was so angry at his dumb stubbornness.

Sasuke was speechless. He didn't expect those words to come out of her mouth. They weren't true of course, he thought, but deep down, he knew, she was right. That is why it hurt him…because the truth hurts.

"You're hopeless"

His eyes almost popped out at her declaration. He couldn't believe it.

"What?"
"You heard me"

Sasuke made a face. "Look Sakura, you just…"

"Look Sasuke, I already asked for my forgiveness and I've given you mine. Whether you take it or leave it. I'm gonna go, I just came to think and now I'm done…"

Sakura walked away from the side of the bridge and walked around Sasuke, who was just rooted to his spot, motionless.

"Bye" was all he heard before he snapped back to reality and turned to stop her from going anywhere. Sadly, she was already gone.

Sasuke was taken aback. 'Where did she go?'
Sasuke sighed and made his way back home. Sakura's words repeating over and over in his head. 'So much for telling her how I feel.'

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Sakura's tears just couldn't stop coming down. They were like a broken water faucet. 'How stupid of him' she thought angrily. The rain continued.

"How can he be so stupid! What is the problem in just being man enough to accept something as simple and easy as forgiveness?" She fumed.

"OH no…but if I were to tell him to go and climb the highest mountain and battle a million ANBU ninjas in order for him to earn my forgiveness, he'd do it in less than a heartbeat!!! Stupid Jerk!!!" She said sarcastically. Sakura walked through the muddy empty streets. She took in her surroundings and realized she hadn't walked home like she had intended to do but she was actually right in front of the Hokage's office.

' I wonder if she's in'

She turned to look up at her window and noticed the light on. Sakura smiled and proceeded in.

"Excuse me, Hokage"

Tsunade stopped her conversation that she was currently engaged in with 3 ANBU Officers. "Yes?"
"The princess is here to see you"

A bit stunned, Tsunade just nodded. "Oh…Please send her right in"

Her secretary left almost immediately.

"Right this way, Princess"
"Sakura, please. C'mon! You've known me forever as Sakura. Call me by my name"

"Oh yes Princess!... I mean… Sakura"

Tsunade heard the princess sigh as she made her way through the doorway. Almost instantly, Sakura came to a halt. Sakura realized that Tsunade wasn't alone. There were three other people in the room with her at that moment.

Kakashi, Naruto and … Sasuke.

'How the hell did he get here so fast?' she asked herself not realizing that her deep thought walk had actually taken about a good 30 minutes.

"Sakura…this is an unexpected surprise. Is….everything alright?"

Sakura was just looking at Sasuke. No one moved.

"Helloooo…Sakuraaaa!" exclaimed an overly hyper Naruto. Sakura broke from her spell and turned her attention to Tsunade.

"I'm sorry…what?"

Tsunade studied her for a good second before answering her. "Um…is everything ok?" she asked again more slowly. Sakura slowly nodded. Then she made her way closer to Tsunade's desk, near where Kakashi was.

"Sakura, tell us…what's eating you?"
She turned her head to look at Kakashi.

"Well…I just wanted to know if you have already given any thought on how we can defeat Orochimaru"

She heard Tsunade sigh. "Actually, that's what we were trying to figure out right before you came"
"And?"
"Nothing. All we know is that he is incredibly strong and we need to protect you. We were discussing protection 24/7 for you"

"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!" Sakura said holding her hands in front of her. "Hold up…Protection? For me?"
No one said anything.

"I'm sorry Tsunade, but with all due respect, I don't need any protection whatsoever. I have my own means of protection if you clearly recall. One, I have my guardians and two I have my special abilities"

"NO! I don't want Hinata in danger!! I don't want her to get hurt! If she protects you, she will get hurt a lot…I don't want that!!" shouted Naruto. Sakura turned to look at him angrily.

"I suggest that you never…ever…say that to Hinata or any of my girls. My guardians were born to protect me. They love it. Take away their obligation and you will earn their hate"

Naruto gulped. "But…but why?"

"Because, Naruto, it is their nature to protect." Sakura threw her hands up in the air. "For crying out loud, you should have seen how pissed they were when we got separated into our teams. They couldn't stand the fact that they were being replaced by you three!" she pointed to each one.

"For them, protecting me is their whole lives. Now that they have that chance because we no longer have to hide who we are…they're thrilled." Sakura looked down. "and now…you want to take that away from them…" she almost whispered it. "Don't, they won't forgive you for it." She looked up at Naruto. "Is that what you want?"
Naruto shook his head vigorously. "NO! I don't want to see my pretty Hinata upset…"
"Then don't take away her passion, Naruto"

For a second, Naruto still looked unconvinced but he knew that the battle was lost. Sakura knew the guardians better than anyone else. He knew he had no other choice than to accept this. He heard Sakura sigh…again.

"Fine then, learn the hard way" She nodded disappointedly as she took interest in her shoes. Before Naruto could respond, Sakura continued.
"On to other matters" she said as she lifted her gaze to meet Tsunade's "Orochimaru is a monster that will stop at nothing until he gets what he wants…and right now, he wants me"

Sasuke clenched his fists as he continued to look down.
"I suggest that the protection you wanted to issue to me be bestowed on my parents"

Everyone was confused now. "Why Sakura?"

Sakura smiled. "I was informed that he wants to use them against me…I can't let that happen" Sakura flickered her gaze towards Sasuke who was still looking down. 'Silly boy' she thought. 'Can't even look at me' It irritated her. Shouldn't he be eyeing her as if he wanted to devour her? But no. He was more preoccupied with the stupid floor than to check her out! Men!
She hid her irritation and continued.

"How do you know all this Sakura?" Kakashi asked. Sakura took a peek at Sasuke before returning her gaze to her former sensei.

"Itachi overheard Orochimaru talking and came to inform me before the earlier battle" She heard gasps coming from the Hokage and her Sensei. "He plans to use them to get me." Sakura plainly stated. She hated that thought. She couldn't stand the image that displayed in her mind at the moment. She hoped that it never happened.

"Honestly," she said softly, "If that comes to happen…I will have no choice but to surrender." Her eyes quickly filled with unshed tears. Naruto quickly made his way to her and enveloped her in his arms, comforting her.

"No…No Sakura…We won't let that happen to you. We won't let him win." He said with such loyalty vibrating in his voice.
Sasuke raised his gaze and took in the sight of his best friend holding his love…which surprisingly, infuriated him. Mostly because he was too chicken to do it himself.

"If Hinata is going to protect you, well then so am I…please princess let me become one of your guardians, please" Naruto begged as he got down on one knee. "Please"

This angered Sasuke even more. Oh how he envied him. He envied the way it was so easy for that stupid dobe to express his emotions and how to touch and comfort the cherry blossom he loved.

"Sakura I want to protect you too! Just like the guardians do…please, please let me protect you!" Naruto continued.

Sakura was honored. She was speechless. She was too grateful to Naruto. She was just about to reply but what happened next…well it just left her to shock to even speak.

A growl could be heard from the raven haired man. "Enough!" he stomped his way towards the dobe that was still on his knees but now had his arms wrapped around her knees as he begged like a baby. He came and abruptly tore him away from her. His face looked as if he were about to terminate, Naruto had to admit, he was a little scared.

"Whoa! Calm down Sasuke! What's your problem" yelled Naruto as he stumbled back and landed on Tsunade's couch. He just glared at him.

"Don't touch her dobe" Sasuke snared. Everyone gaped at him. "You will not protect what is mine to protect, is that understood!" Naruto only gulped. Then slowly, he nodded.

"I don't ever want to see you touch her in anyway ever again. She. Is. Mine." He growled. Suddenly, as if he realizing what he had just confessed, he bit his tongue before he continued with the rest of the confession. He stared down at Naruto who was looking at him as if he had grown another head. Sasuke really didn't want to turn around. He didn't want to see her. He didn't know what he was going to find her eyes after what just went down. So instead, he did the only thing he could think of…he scampered out.

"Uh…sorry…I…I gotta go…" and with that, he was gone. Sakura had to smile. He had said she was his. She didn't care that he hadn't looked at her or that he left so soon…he had said that she was his. He cared. She was sure of it. She liked the sound of that, yet happiness and sadness overwhelmed her.

"What…what was all that about?" Kakashi exhaled. Sakura looked at him for a second, then she turned to Tsunade. She only shrugged. "I honestly don't know"

"I know"

Everyone turned to look at the blond man who was grinning like an idiot.
"He's in love" Sakura's eyes widened. She knew he cared for her…but did he actually love her??? Could she be so lucky??

"Wh…What?!?"

"You think so?" Kakashi wondered. Naruto nodded. "Absolutely"

Sakura was still in too much shock to speak.
"Why do you say that?" Tsunade asked. Naruto's got wider, if that were even possible.

"Well, Duh! He is the source! AND prophecy says that they are meant to be" he exclaimed. Sakura shook out of the daze Sasuke had put her in but was shattered by Naruto's reasoning.

'Could that be it? Could it be possible? Is it because he is the source and he feels like he NEEDS to be with me in order to defend me from danger?' Sakura felt the tears begin to betray her like the traitors they were. They fell, one right after the other. Immediately the other three noticed the emotion change that commenced in her. Naruto quickly rushed to her side but made sure he didn't touch her in a way that the hime would not approve. He knew how to respect. He smiled inwardly.

"Sakura…what's wrong?"

Sakura chocked on a sob and threw herself at Naruto, who was stunned by the action. Oh no! Now he's in trouble! 'Please, Please don't let Sasuke come back at this moment' he prayed silently. Sakura just cried. She poured herself out like she hadn't done in years. Tsunade and Kakashi both went to sooth the hurting princess.
"Please Sakura, don't cry" Naruto comforted "You've done that so much these past years. It's your turn to smile and be happy"

Sakura only cried harder.
Kakashi winced.
Tsunade frowned.
And Naruto sighed.

No one knew how to calm the princess. Determined, Naruto grabbed her shoulders and made her look at him. Sakura still kept crying though.

"Sakura, listen to me" she began to quiet down. "Don't let something like this bring you down. Sakura, I don't know what made you so sad…but I can assure you one thing…Sasuke is in love with you"

Sakura looked intensely at him. Tears streaming down her red cheeks. Naruto smiled warmly at her.
"He really does…what he did just a moment ago…proves it"
"It…It does?" she sniffed. Naruto laughed.

"Hell yea it does! He was claiming what was his. Look…even if destiny or a stupid prophecy hadn't helped you find the person you are suppose to be with, I believe that he would have fallen in love you either way."

"But Naruto…I…I feel that…he doesn't…doesn't care…about me…at all" She sobbed. "I just…wish he could..be more open…about his feelings"

Naruto snorted. "You and me both girl!" Naruto agreed along with Tsunade and Kakashi.

"Naruto's right Sakura" Kakashi began "I'm even confident that Sasuke loved you since you were eight"
Now Sakura was confused. 'What?'

"What?"
"He said he saw you at the palace the night they went to go and visit your family"

Realizations hit Sakura. 'Of course…Itachi told me that encounter'
"You intrigued him from the very beginning. In reality, you choose him way before you were born. Don't you think it's such a funny coincidence that your family and his were so close. And also, why not make you engage to Uchiha's eldest son, Itachi? He was there first born?"

Sakura remained motionless. She had never thought about it like that. Kakashi made a very good point.

"Hey, yea, Kakashi makes a lot of sense Sakura" Tsunade agreed. "Ever since he saw your painting, he realized that you were the girl that his parents wanted him to marry and the one that had already captured his heart"

Sakura straightened a bit. She looked about the room until her eyes settled on a large frame leaning against the wall near the window where Sakura still noticed that it was STILL raining.
She made her way towards the only thing that connected her to her past. Her wonderful memories. Her family. All eyes were on her and she moved. She reached for it but abruptly stopped for a second before continuing. Her slender fingers touched the amazingly smooth silk that covered her treasure. Grabbing it, she lifted the cloth slowly, revealing her portrait.

There it was. Smiling right back at her, well not really because her younger self was obviously not enjoying having her picture painted. She remembered the itchy dress and the make-up her mother had applied. She remembered how dirty her face felt with all that stuff on her. Sakura found herself regretting her attitude that day. She should have enjoyed her mother's glorious nagging and her overbearing compliments. She could still hear her guardians snicker in the back as she was painted by the painter from hell. All he could say was "Don't Move!" which was so annoying. She touched the picture carefully and allowed her fingers to absorb everything. She closed her eyes and smiled.

Finally opening them, she turned to Tsunade and smiled. Her eyes still watery. "I would like my portrait back…please"

Tsunade smiled. "Sakura, you don't even have to ask. This portrait is rightfully your. But I suggest you take it tomorrow when they day is much better" She laughed. "Ask Hinata how the weather is going to be"

Sakura and Kakashi laughed as Naruto looked as if he were in a middle of a daydreaming.

"Ah…Hinata…My beautiful Hinata…"

Sakura smiled at his silliness. To think that just a moment ago, he gave her comforting words and the best advice ever. Sakura made her way to the spaced out Naruto and hugged him, bringing him back to reality again.

"Thank You" she whispered and slowly let him go. He was smiling. "Anytime"

"You too" she turned to face Tsunade and Kakashi before bowing before them, catching them off guard and exited into the awaiting rain.

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'Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!' Sasuke wanted to kick himself for how stupid he was feeling at the moment.. "Damn it…I just couldn't control myself" he seethed. "Stupid Naruto for make me feel this wretched feeling that has made me loose all my common sense"

He was soaked. He hit the edge of the bridge.
"All I could think about was getting his damn hands off her" he hit the bridge harder this time.
'C'mon Sasuke, get a hold of yourself…you know Naruto doesn't like Sakura that way. Why the hell did you have to make such a show like that?!?' he growled. Did he regret what he said? No! Absolutely not. He knew he meant it. Sasuke knew damn well that he didn't want any other man protecting his Sakura. She was his. He didn't care whether she agreed on it or not, she belonged to him. End of story.

"Sasuke?"

Sasuke whipped his head to his side. Eyes widened momentarily but quickly recovered. 'Speak of the angel' he smirked to himself.

Sakura stood where the bridge started, nicely soaked to the core once more. Sasuke felt an electric shock go to his groin. He straightened quickly.

"Sasuke…have you been here ever since you left Tsunade's office?" she asked unbelievably. He didn't say anything at first, he just stared at her. A shiver went down her spine under his watchful eye.

"Sasuke?... didn't you hear…"
"Are you cold?" He asked suddenly. Sakura's eyes showed confusion. She swallowed hard. "Uh…cold?... um… yea, a little, why?" He simply shrugged. "I saw you shiver"

Sakura's mouth fell open but quickly closed it. He saw that? That thought made her shiver…again.
Sasuke pulled himself away from the bridge and made his way to her. Sakura could only watch him approach her. Her mouth suddenly went dry. He looked like a sexy predator who is trying to lure his prey into its clutches. And at this precise moment…she knew that his prey, was her. She gulped.

He stopped in front of her. She just looked at him questioningly.

"What?"

Without answering, he took hold of her hand and began leading her down the muddy streets.

"Hey what do you think you're doing?" she asked shakingly yet somehow excited, which scared her to her core.

"I'm getting you out of the rain…somewhere warm"
"I can use my shield you know" He turned abruptly, frightening her in the process.
"Don't! Don't use any magic when you're with me…ok"

Sakura was puzzled. She didn't understand why.
"But…why?"
"Just don't"

With that, he continued to pull her as she tried to reason with herself why he would get so upset with her using her powers? She didn't understand him.
Then she realized something…she had no idea where he was leading her too.

"Hey, where is this warm place you're taking me to anyway"
He was silent for a moment.

"My house"

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Hey my fellow readers! Again I'm so sorry for taking so long in updating. I really do hope that you enjoyed this chapter to the story. I really do hope that it has quenched your thirst just a little bit. I'm not going to lie, I had difficulty in writing this chapter. I really didn't know what to do with the characters. I had two options and I was considering the one that made me finish the story in like one more chapter, but it would have been dull and boring but thanks to all my reviews, there will still be a couple more chapters to go.

xoxo,
Sakura Ai

P.S. I want to thank a special reviewer by the name of SakuraUchiha44530 To you…I say thank you. I do hope you're reading this. If it wasn't for you…I think I would have forgotten about completing the chapter. Thanks for you brutal honesty. I WAS being lazy. But you've reminded me that there are people enjoying this story. So again…Thanks! This chapter is dedicated to you my friend!!! ENJOY!