So…it's been like two months since I've updated this sorry….heh…yeah…so much for quicker updating rate.
Thanks you to all who still stuck with the story for so long. I appreciate every single one of you.
Once again, no promises can be made about quicker updating, but I'll try (not that trying really helps that much.)
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Sasuke-kun…
Sakura stared down at her hands, her heart clouded with grief. Dried tears and dirt stained her face, but appearances at the moment were the farthest thing from her mind.
I can't believe this. I promised myself…and Naruto, we would surely bring Sasuke-kun back.
She closed her fists.
Why?! How could he?!
Fresh tears began to pour.
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"That's it! I'm sending ANBU out to go look for her!"
"Wait Tsunade baa-chan! Please listen—"
"Enough!" The hokage slammed her hands onto her desk. "If that Uchiha even considered taking her back to Konoha, he would have done so already. There is no point in—"
"Ah…but—" Naruto was trying to reason with the frantic Tsunade.
"No buts, Naruto! If we postpone any longer, she could die and I'm no going to let—"
"LISTEN!" Naruto paused, shocked by his own outburst. "I—I mean…Please, Tsunade baa-chan, I'm begging you! Sasuke may be a traitor, and he may be a bastard, but he's still Sasuke! I believe he'll bring her back, safe and sound, because Sasuke would never do anything to hurt his old comrades!"
"Kid…"
"Besides, what use is the ANBU? They don't have any hints or clues whatsoever at this moment on where to begin their search!"
Tsunade sat in silence, contemplating what the blonde's reasoning. Personally, his belief in the Uchiha was astounding, especially considering what had transpired between when they had reunited a few days ago.
Naruto stood, tense, awaiting the hokage's decision.
"Alright."
The boy blinked. "…huh?"
"I'll wait," Tsunade sighed. "You know Sasuke better than anyone in this village. If you believe he will bring Sakura back, it would be best to believe you."
Naruto felt his face light up. "Really? I've got to tell Kakashi-sensei and Fuzzy-brows and—"
"Naruto!"
"Ehh…what?"
"I'll tell you this now," Tsunade wasn't smiling. "Three days…that's all that boys got. If she isn't back in three days, then I'm sending ANBU, and if that boy is found…"
"…"
"…they will attack without hesitation!"
There was an awkward silence, before Naruto let out a sudden bark of laughter. "You don't need to get all serious for something like that, baa-chan! Sakura will definitely be back within 3 days! Geez, you scared me for a second there! I thought what you were going to tell me was life-threatening or something!"
He gave the hokage a grin, and headed out the door. "You worry too much!"
Damn it…
The smile slowly slipped once Tsunade was out of sight.
What's taking so long, Sasuke?
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A shadow loomed in the trees, blood red eyes staring down onto the crouched pink-haired female on the ground.
"Hmm…what's this?" A sharpening of kunai was heard. "Little miss weak kunoichi is wandering alone? I wonder how she escaped. Maybe I should wait until Hayubi comes…" A feral smile. "…Nah…I'll just have a little fun by myself!"
The shadow leaped, and descended towards the girl.
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Sasuke watched the running stream before him, his face void of any emotion.
He had made the right choice. He knew it…but…
Damn it all…
He brought his hand down to the water, and swiped it across his hair in an attempt to clear his head.
I'm still weak.
To achieve his goal of killing his brother, he needed to sever all bonds…
Why did I...back there…
He had kissed her, and perhaps what shocked him the most was that the action had been almost natural. Seeing her grief-stricken face had led him to take such action.
I have no control.
Sasuke gritted his teeth, mentally reprimanding himself at his inability to keep his own emotions in check.
He thought back to the day at the market.
'Did—Did I really kiss you?' she had asked him that day.
He bent his head.She had kissed him, and there was no point in denying the truth. Sasuke would admit that it was indeed somewhat enjoyable.
However…
He straightened up, his mask slipped back into place. He had something that needed to be done before he could go dreaming about kisses and crying girls and such.
Feelings only hinder…
He had a vow he needed to complete.
Revenge comes first.
There was no room for argument.
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"I can't believe this. I knew this forest was full of vermin, but I never expected to see Sasuke-kun's stalker here, too. Aren't you supposed to be dead, girl?"
Sakura looked from her seat. It was Mioko, that vile cousin of that wretched Hayubi.
"Has stalker-girl been crying?" Mioko sneered. "Real kunoichis don't cry, bitch." She laughed, pulling out a kunai.
"Go away," Sakura spoke up.
"Oh?" Mioko mocked. "So the crybaby finally speaks. You know, I was just patrolling the area with Hayubi, bit it's really pretty boring. Can you keep me amused…at least for five minutes, kunoichi?"
Sakura narrowed her eyes, but remained silent.
"Can you block this? Here I come, crybaby!" Mioko let out a cackle, before her hand came down, kunai in hand and aiming straight for Sakura's arm.
There was sudden pressure, and Mioko felt her descending suddenly stop. Her eyes widened. "W-What the—"
Sakura was gripping the wrist of the raven-haired sound ninja. "I may be a crybaby," she clamped her hand down harder. "But that doesn't mean I won't defend myself!"
Mioko let out a snort of disbelief. "Is this a joke?" she shrieked. "You—the crybaby kunoichi—you think you can defeat me? Ha! Bring it on bitch!" She jerked out of Sakura's grasp. "You won't even last for a minute! I'm going to kill you!"
Sakura jumped back, readying her stance. Her thoughts on Sasuke would have to be put aside for the moment. "Don't underestimate me!"
She sent her fist to the ground…
…and the Earth erupted under her will.
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