NaruHina: 6 votes
NejiTen: 3 votes
ShikaIno: 3 votes
ShikaTem: 1 vote
Doesn't want any other pairings: 1
And the votes are in! Well, for now, anyways…Voting ends by the time I update next chapter, so yah. Keep voting if your favorite couple isn't in the lead!
Lilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilo
Orochimaru was dead, and all was well for the time being. Naruto is Tsunade's successor, and as of now, the war with Otogakure is over, with Konoha being victorious.
"So Sasuke-kun…what should we do now?"
Sasuke and Sakura were standing with Naruto, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Kakashi. Before them stood Konoha, looking like a mess. They all watched Gaara and the other ninjas finish off the last of the Sound ninjas. When all was done, Konoha suffered a loss of 55 ninjas and 75 casulties compared to the deaths of over 1000 Sound ninjas. The remaining Sound ninjas numbered a mere 15, all whom were taken prisoner by the ANBU.
"Gaara! We couldn't thank you enough!" Sakura shouted. She was extremely glad that he decided to help them out despite their last minute request for assistance in the middle of a war.
"It figures. We bust our butts out there, and the only person that gets thanked is our little brother."
Sakura turned around and saw Temari and Kankuro approaching them. They both had a couple of scratches and bruises, but other than that, they looked fine. Sakura smiled and ran over to them. She threw her arms around Temari.
"I'm so glad that you guys are okay!"
"What? Don't I get a hug from the pretty girl?" Kankuro jokingly asked. ( A tad OOC, but bear with me.)
Sasuke walked over to them and grunted. Sakura, seeing this, smiled.
"You don't need a hug."
Kankuro looked over at Sasuke with a surprised look on his face. He wasn't expecting to hear something like that coming from Sasuke, despite the fact that they barely knew each other. Temari was surprised too.
"What do you know? He's alive after all." She said. Temari then looked over at Sakura and smirked.
"Looks like lady luck is on your side, Sakura."
"Hardly."
Everyone was surprised to hear the voice interrupt. They turned around and saw Neji, Ten-ten and Lee walking up to them. Neji continued.
"It never has anything to do with luck. It's fate and destiny. Only idiotic fools like you would make the mistake of thanking luck. It was fate that a weakling like Uchiha returned alive, and it's destiny that he met us all and returned."
Sakura, Temari and Kankuro sweat-dropped. Although Temari and Kankuro didn't know Neji very well, they knew about his obsession with fate and his egotistical behavior. Sasuke on the other hand, remained cool and calm in composure. He cocked an eyebrow at Neji. That bastard. Weak? Me? I'm an Uchiha. He's the idiot.
"I doubt that a weakling would survive an encounter with Orochimaru like I did."
It was Neji's turn to cock an eyebrow.
"You betrayed Konoha so that you could go to that bisexual lowlife. Now that he's dead, you're here with your fallen comrades at our mercy."
Sakura chose to but in. no one calls Sasuke-kun a betrayer.
"Back off, Neji. Sasuke DID betray us, but he came back and helped us kill Orochimaru. His assistance greatly affected the outcome of the war in OUR favor, and because of him, the remaining Sound ninjas are at our mercy, and not the other way around."
Before Neji could respond to Sakura's words, Ten-ten decided to put an end to the conversation before another war erupted. She walked in front of Neji, laughing nervously.
"Ahahaha…hey Neji, I think that Master Gai needs us to help him clean up the city."
"Ten-ten, why are you trying to change the subject?"
"Ummm…because you're so smart! You're so smart and intelligent, these, uh, idiots don't stand a chance in a…quarrel with you!"
Neji smirked and nodded. Everyone else sweat-dropped.
"It makes me happy that you understand that."
Lee, being an idiot, however, decided to ask another question.
"But Ten-ten! I don't think that Gai-sensei needs our help! He's not even cleaning up!"
Neji watched Ten-ten. Ten-ten nervously laughed. Lee, you idiot!
"But Lee…friend…that's why we must go ahead and clean up before he does…"
"Why? I don't get it!"
"Uh….ummmm…because…cause it's the YOUTHFUL thing to do! We must let the power of youth flow!"
Everyone's sweatdrop grew bigger. Lee's eye widened with astonishment. I finally get it! Wow!
"Wow, Ten-ten! The power of youth must be flowing within you! Embrace it! I'm very proud of you! Let's go! It's the power of youth! Let us all go hand-in-hand and clean up the city and make Gai-sensei proud!"
Lee ran off and Neji and Ten-ten walked away slowly.
"Ten-ten."
"Yes, Neji?"
"…why did you try to change the subject earlier again?"
"Uhh… cause you're so smart! You were so smart and intelligent, and those…uh, idiots didn't stand a chance in a…quarrel with you!"
Neji smirked.
"That's right. Don't forget the truth. Don't be an idiot, and remember that."
With that, he walked ahead, leaving Ten-ten behind. When Neji was far up ahead and out of ear-shot, she turned back at Sakura, Temari, Kankuro, and Sasuke.
"When in doubt, play off of his ego." She whispered then ran off.
Everyone's sweat-drop grew even bigger. Sakura smiled awkwardly and laughed nervously while she mouthed a 'thanks' to Ten-ten and waved good-bye to her. When Team Gai was out of sight, Tsunade called Sakura and Sasuke over to her. Sakura gave Tamari and Kankuro a quick hug before running off to catch up with Sasuke. When they got to Tsunade, the Fifth's face was serious and stern. Naruto was with her, and they both motioned for Sasuke and Sakura to follow them to a quiet place away from everyone else. Naruto spoke up first.
"Sasuke. We need to discuss some…important things."
Sasuke nodded his head. Tsunade spoke next.
"Now that you are back here, we need to talk. You betrayed Konohagakure and left us in order to seek out the enemy…"
Sakura's eyes widened in horror and turned her head to look at Sasuke. He appeared to look calm and emotionless.
"…hn."
Naruto continued.
"We were speaking to old man Ero-Sennin, Kakashi-sensei and some of the village farts-er, elders about a suitable punishment for you."
Sakura gasped. A punishment? After all that has happened? Why?
"B-but Naruto! Sasuke was our teammate! You can't! A-and, Tsunade-sama! Why? He never actually hurt us, so you can't punish him!"
Tsunade spoke to her student.
"Relax, Sakura. We know all of that. Let us finish."
"..So, teme, about your punishment, we all talked about it and we decided that we're gonna kill you."
Sasuke cocked an eyebrow, and Sakura's eye began to water.
"NARUTO! YOU CAN'T!"
Sasuke didn't say a word. After a brief moment of silence, Naruto cracked up, and Tsunade sighed.
"BWAHAHA! HAHAHA! S-SORRY! I just HAD to see your reactions, or lack, thereof! You should have seen your face Sakura-chan!"
"hmph. Dobe."
Sakura punched Naruto into the ground and shouted at Naruto and scolded him about giving people heart-attacks and stuff. After Naruto managed to pull himself out of the ground, he rubbed his head and laughed sheepishly.
"hahaha…that was just a joke!"
Tsunade decided to continue for Naruto.
"Uchiha, you helped us defeat Orochimaru, and we wouldn't have done as well as we have if it weren't for you…and Naruto. After talking with Kakashi, Jiraiya, and the village elders, we decided that you have already redeemed yourself by assisting in the death and demise of Orochimaru and the Sound ninjas."
Sakura breathed a sigh of relief and Sasuke let out a breath that he didn't know he was holding.
"BUT…"
Sasuke cocked an eyebrow.
"but..?"
Naruto spoke.
"Sasuke, if you decide to leave Konoha again, make sure to let me know before you do, and let Sakura-chan know, too. Otherwise, if you don't, well, you know, I'd have to kick your ass."
"..hn. Whatever."
Lilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilo
After speaking with Tsunade, Kakashi, and Jiraiya for a little while, and thanking Sand and saying their goodbyes, Sasuke tapped Sakura's shoulder lightly and motioned for her to follow.
They walked in silence, with Sasuke walking ahead and Sakura following him. Sasuke led the way, and although Sakura had no idea where they were going, she followed him anyways, and kept her questions to herself.
When Sasuke stopped walking, Sakura accidentally bumped into him. Rubbing her head, she sheepishly apologized to him and stood beside him. After receiving no response, Sakura looked at her surroundings. Her eyes widened in amazement as she fully took in her surroundings.
"This…this is the Uchiha residential area."
Sasuke grunted.
"Was."
Sakura looked down.
"Oh…right. Sorry."
He cocked an eyebrow.
"Why are you sorry?"
Sakura looked up.
"N-No, it's just that-"
"There's nothing for you to be sorry about."
Sakura mouthed the word 'oh.' And bit her tongue when she was about to say sorry again. Sasuke sighed heavily. The sun was starting to set, and the entire area had an orange hue.
"There was a time when this place was full of Uchihas…"
Sakura looked up at Sasuke. She felt his sorrow, and her heart ached.
"Now, there are only two."
Sasuke walked over to Sakura. His eyes held no emotion, and his hands were stuffed in his pocket.
"Sasuke-kun…"
"Sakura…I still need to find my brother. I can't afford to live comfortably with the knowledge that he is still alive."
Sakura began to cry. The sadness that he held was unbearable, and now she felt it too.
"But once he is dead, there will be two Uchihas still…well, there may be two Uchihas…"
"S-Sasuke-kun, what do you mean? Is there another Uchiha out there besides your brother?"
Sasuke shrugged his shoulders and turned away from Sakura.
"Maybe…"
Sakura wanted to ask Sasuke, but decided not to question him any further. Sasuke continued.
"After my brother is dead, that other Uchiha may be you."
Sakura's eyes widened. She felt a surge of mixed emotions. Happiness, embarrassment, sadness…there were too many to choose just one. Was Sasuke proposing to her? She wanted to look into his dark eyes, but Sasuke still had his back facing her, and his hands were still stuffed in his pockets.
"Sakura…I still need to restore my clan. You do remember, don't you?"
She silently nodded. Even with his back to her, Sasuke knew.
"Sasuke-kun, I thought that you've forgotten about that…of all the years that I've known you, the only goal you seemed to be concerned about was killing that certain man…"
"It didn't mean that I forgot about my other goal."
Sakura smiled.
"Killing Itachi and getting my revenge is what matters most in my life. Remember what I told you about three years ago?"
"…"
"I'm an avenger."
Sakura sighed. He was just so…Sasuke-kun like. Even when he was supposedly proposing, the conversation somehow found its way back to power and avenging his clan. This was probably going to be as romantic as he going to get. She couldn't help but giggle to herself.
Sasuke heard Sakura giggling and turned around to face her again. He removed his hands from his pockets and crossed them across his chest as he cocked an eyebrow at her. She was always there for him, and she understood him completely. There was a time when he hated it because he felt vulnerable around her, but now, seeing her after about three years, he came to appreciate and even love her understanding of him. She was important to him, although he would never openly state that. She was one of the only people that really cared about him since the death of his parents, if not more.
"What are you giggling about Sakura? I'm serious."
She stopped giggling and smiled at him.
"I know, Sasuke-kun, I know."
"hn."
She couldn't help but start giggling again. How many times has she heard that come out of him? It brought back many bittersweet memories.
Sasuke couldn't help but smirk upon hearing Sakura giggle again. He knew why she was giggling. He only used that 'phrase' about half the time of his life. It brought back many bittersweet memories to him too.
"Sakura, you're annoying."
Sakura giggled even more. Sasuke will always be Sasuke, and she wouldn't have it any other way.
"Thanks."
Sasuke smirked. When Sakura's giggling finally stopped, Sasuke continued.
"So, Sakura…how many Uchihas are there going to be when my brother is dead?"
Sakura smiled and wrapped her arms around Sasuke.
"Two, Sasuke-kun. You and me."
Sasuke felt himself smile a little as he loosely hung his arms around Sakura's body and slightly returned her hug in his own way.
"Sasuke-kun…you're so…Sasuke."
"…"
"But I wouldn't want it any other way."
"hn."
Lilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilolilo
ComeComeParadise Corner:
Well, Sasuke "proposed" in his own little way. I'm sorry if it came out a tad bit OOC…my apologies, everyone. More coming your way! Remember to vote, too, cuz this is your last chance to vote for another pairing! Scroll back up top to see more!
Remember to REVIEW and NO FLAMES!