Okay, so you're in luck. I did manage three chapters today. Unfortunately, I'm not so sure I can squeeze a fourth out, but it shouldn't take too long. A week maybe. Today is my day off, which is why I could get to it so quickly. But once the work week begins, I won't have as much time. So a week at most. Promise I'll have a new one by next wednesday at the latest. Possibly sooner.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Ch. 14: Choices

Sakura stared in horror as Sasuke considered the four sound nin across from him. Finally, he smirked. Her heart sank. He wouldn't. He promised he wouldn't. She stood frozen in place. Then, her eyes narrowed as anger took hold. Her fists clenched at her sides. No, he wouldn't. If she had to pound him into the ground and tie him in place, she would. Anything to keep him from becoming the monster Orochimaru wanted him to be. Oh, why couldn't Naruto have waited just a little longer before leaving with Jiraiya. She could really use the blond's help right about now.

Just as she shifted to begin the pounding, Sasuke spoke, "You've got to be kidding me."

Everyone looked at him in surprise.

"After all the effort I put into avoiding his damn curse mark, you think I'd join him now?" Sasuke sneered, his arrogance plain in every move. "I will get stronger without Orochimaru."

"But it won't happen as easily or quickly," the sound nin objected, obviously irritated by Sasuke's choice.

Sasuke shrugged. "Then I'll just have to work harder with Kakashi than I would with Orochimaru. I'll still get stronger."

"Orochimaru can teach you things Kakashi can't."

"I'm sure he could," Sasuke agreed. "But I'm still not going."

"Why not? Don't you want to avenge your clan?"

"Yes."

"Then why refuse?"

Sasuke didn't say anything. He never was one for words, nor did he feel the need to explain himself to these shinobi. They didn't matter. Instead, he took a fighting stance. "Either leave this village, and me, alone or fight. The choice is yours now."

"Just you against four of us. Please." The four shinobi circled him. "We'll win and drag you to Orochimaru."

Sakura jumped up and joined Sasuke, standing at his back. Temper snapped in her eyes. "No, that's two of us agains all of you. I'm going to beat you bloody for threatening Sasuke."

Sasuke smirked at her. "Temper, Sakura."

She glowered at him. "Sasuke, if we weren't busy at the moment, I'd hit you for trying to placate me."

"You can't win," the sound nin informed them.

"Then I guess we'll all have to help them."

Everyone turned and saw Kakashi standing on a roof next to them. Behind him stood Might Guy and several other jonin. Sakura was also surprised to see Tsunade.

"Just how long have all of you been here," Sakura demanded. "Why didn't you help earlier?"

"We needed to see what Sasuke would do," Kakashi stated with a smile. "I think he's proven himself trustworthy, don't you?"

Sasuke stared at them all with a carefully blank expression. It sort of irritated him that they felt the need to test him. Then again, he couldn't really blame them. It had been a near thing after all. If just one thing had gone differently, then Sakura's visions would have come true.

"Now all of us can stop wondering if he'll backslide." Kakashi straightened. "So, on to the fight, yes?"

The sound nin didn't look so sure anymore. They exchanged quick glances before running away. The leaf shinobi let them go. The fight wouldn't have accomplished anything now. Kakashi jumped over to join Sasuke and Sakura.

"I am relieved to know you're sticking to your choice, Sasuke."

"You could have just asked."

"But that still wouldn't have verified anything." Kakashi's dark eye met Sasuke's in a rare show of seriousness. "No one knows how they'll respond to temptation until it's in front of them. Now we all know."

Sasuke sighed and nodded, because Kakashi was right. Now he knew. He had looked temptation in the face and still said no. It was oddly...liberating.

"You two should go get some sleep," Kakashi told them as he turned to leave. "Tomorrow, Sasuke and I leave for his training."

Sasuke turned to Sakura. "I'll walk you home."

She nodded and followed him back down to the street below. Sakura would never tell Sasuke this, but Kakashi was right. She would trust him more now than she would have a few moment ago. Because words were one thing. Sasuke made promises and she did count on him to keep them, but...But without the actions to back them up, they were just empty promises. Now, they had meaning.

"Sasuke."

He glanced at her.

"I love you. You know that right?" She looked up at him, unsure of herself. Part of her was terrified of telling him just how much power he had over her. The rest knew she had to tell him because their lives hung in the balance. Who knew what tomorrow might bring.

At his surprised look, she continued quickly, "I know you think it's silly and ridiculous, but it's not. I love you so much. If anything happens to you, I'll never recover."

The surprise had faded and his expression seemed guarded now. "Sakura..."

"You don't have to say anything, Sasuke." She smiled at him. "Just promise me you'll come back safe and sound. I need to know that you'll be okay, no matter what. And, I can trust your promises."

"You're crying again."

She sighed. "I can't help it."

He reached out and wiped her tears away. "You know I can't make that promise. I don't know what we'll face in the future. As much as I want to believe I'm invincible, I'm not. Even Shinobi are human. Remember?"

She remembered. Zabuza had said that.

"I stopped denying that to myself then," he informed her dropping his hand from her face. It felt odd to talk so openly, but he would try, for his team.

"I suppose you're right." She smiled a little sadly at him. "Good night, Sasuke."

He watched her go inside. Sasuke spent the rest of the night thinking of the future. He didn't do that very often. His mind has always focused on one thing, Itachi. Now, he had other things in his life that mattered. And all of these recent events had him wondering just what it was he wanted for his future. Beyond Itachi that is. Because it had just occurred to him that there would be life after his revenge. It didn't stop when he killed his brother. Time would still move forward and unless he died in the battle for vengeance, his life would still go on. So what was it he wanted? What were his dreams?

The next morning, he met Kakashi and Sakura at the gates to the village. Sakura smiled warmly and gave them both a hug, telling them to be careful and take care of each other. As they walked away, Sasuke stopped and faced Sakura again.

She tilted her head with curiosity.

"I promise I'll come back, Sakura. I won't die during this training."

Her eyes widened in surprise then she smiled warmly. "I'll hold you to it, Sasuke."

He nodded then continued to follow Kakashi. What he wanted in life, he'd discovered was quite simple really. He wanted Naruto's dream to come true. Let him prove to the entire village how wrong they were about him. Sasuke would stand there smirking saying 'I told you so' with pride in his friend. And, he wanted to protect the pink haired girl that had given him everything, including a new lease on life. It may be different that what he expected, but he thought it was better choice than the one he almost made instead. He'd prove to Orochimaru, Itachi, and anyone else that he could become stronger than ever by staying right where he was.

"Ready, Sasuke?" Kakashi asked as he paused in the middle of the road.

Sasuke nodded.

"Then we'll begin in the Land of Earth."

As I said, a week if not sooner for the next chapter. Thank you everyone for your patience. Please review.