Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, it belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.

I'll be honest; this will be the end of his tsukuyomi. (Yeah I'm straight to the point lol) I was on a summer vacation last week and I've been really busy, I never had to chance to check on my draft and there's so many things I want to clarify and explain at this chapter. A BIG BIG thanks for everyone for reading this fic it made me happy to read the reviews and those who followed & favorited the story. I'm not sure when will I update the next chapter after this because my hands are full right now. I know it's hard to deal with the weirdness of this story haha. Again, thank you so much guys.

Sasuchan99 – Thanks, I really don't want to keep it slow paced and I have many surprises in this chapter, so prepare!

Law23 – It was a challenge for me to write Sasuke like that too, thanks for your advice! Sometimes I was thinking to take a break. English is not my first language too, we are the same, so I'm always struggling to check everything when updating.

MademoiselleRED – This one is a long update too, and I think there's no real Sakura in action yet on this one.

The Boy and the Traveller

He heard a loud crack followed by the sound of trees crashing down on their roof. Currently, the villagers are getting ready for the yearly festival tonight, and so many people are going out, enjoying the streets. However, the large damage at the Uchiha compound is enough for their neighbours to notice that something is happening to their Hokage's home.

Sasuke thought he was exhausted but he was just distracted, distracted by foreign memories from his wife. He can't move yet. Discovering what triggered this situation is what he needs to know first. The challenge for him is reviewing everything by another's recorded memory while he can't remember his own. One thing for sure is that Sakura's studies from his tsukuyomi will be his only key to formulate a plan to get out of here.

"Sasuke…" Karin managed to speak after waking up. "Your chakra signature changed." The girl who is fond of Sasuke's life energy had detected another chakra inside him. He looks at her, questioning but he confirmed it himself. "Can you feel the female energy inside you?" She asked.

"Yeah? But to whom?"

"That's Sakura's chakra signature." Karin told at him. She didn't expect to see his lips formed a curved. So, a smiling Sasuke because of Sakura is beautiful too. Karin thought, hiding the pain in her heart.

She was completely taken aback to those stares again. The charming innocence of a man with no memories disappeared, and replaced by something more familiar. He just looks like the usual Sasuke now… She thought. "Sasuke..." She is having a hard time to finish her sentence because of shock. "Go ahead!" And there, she quickly understood the situation. "I used the radio from one of the Anbu, Sakura asked me to send Naruto and request for a team skilled in sealing technique! So, while waiting for them, you must go now!"

Sasuke gets the scroll on the ground, the one that Karin has been protecting since she came back this morning. "Was it you who helped me get my vision back?" He asked her, but Karin shook her head. "Someone shared her memory to me, and it helped me get back my visual powers too." He said. One of the flashbacks he can remember includes Sakura's discussion with Kabuto, explaining how she can help him remember again.

"Having her past memories in my head is somehow…" Sasuke murmured to himself, remembering his own actions are all kept on Sakura's mind. Like an old video playing in his brain. He watches his own face when she wakes-up beside him. He also sees his wolfish expressions during their private moments. There are thousands of stolen glances she kept ever since they were genin until they reached adulthood. Those soft childish glances become bolder and more meaningful time after time. They fight. They laugh. They make love.

And recently, her mind is filled with a little girl. And for the first time, he was able to see that his precious child had grown to a very healthy kid. He wanted to cry to remember the face of his child and it's hard to see how she grew up without him.

"It feels like we're connected." He murmured to himself. It's fascinating to watch her past and it's a breathtaking collection of her stories. Then, he remembered she let her physical body to be consumed by chakra tree to stay with him, reminding him that he don't have much time left.

Sakura's been fighting at the backyard with the zetsu who already lost maintaining Itachi's physical appearance. His eyes became yellow, and his fair skin starts to turn black. She already defeated the 2 anbu guarding the Uchiha compound and now she's trying her best to prolong the fight. Why is the reinforcement taking too long? Sakura thought.

Earlier, when the zetsu is about to force himself to enter Sasuke's consciousness, Karin jumped out of nowhere and stabbed his head by the blade she hid inside the frame of her glasses. Though she can't put much of a fight since she's badly injured, she got lucky that the zetsu didn't kill her but just bit her arm to heal himself. Sakura took that opportunity to fight him one on one after Karin's effort.

However, survival of fighting a highly skilled kunoichi is not an option. It's very one sided. In the beginning of their fight just a few minutes ago, he watched how she heal her own 2nd degree burn without a sweat; he didn't expect the Uchiha's wife is going to be the biggest obstacle in his tsukuyomi.

She can't just lock him down; she needs to keep him busy. And because Sakura's been holding back her real strength, the zetsu managed to pin her down; she succumbed without a struggle, letting him do whatever he likes while she's hiding the collection of chakra inside her hand leather gloves.

"Why are you fighting me?" The zetsu asked. Sakura's face is on the ground, his right foot on her head, and her lips are crushing on the dirty grass. You are just a manifestation of this fake world! The zetsu put more pressure to bury her face on the ground.

"I c-calld Nn-naru-t-to, he'll be here inn n-no t-timmmpp!" She said, trying to lift her head to speak. But as fast as lightning, a man sent him flying at the roof by a single kick. The girl widened her eyes in disbelief to see whose back. He had his left arm around her, she leaned against his exposed chest, and he is still wearing his yukata that morning.

"I'm disappointed." He said. Still under the influence of his cold-eyed stare at the enemy, she knew he finally came back. "Calling out Naruto while I'm the one saving you? Tsk, Tsk." He said with a playful smirk.

"Ne! It's b-because N-Naruto's currently in the village and I told Karin to ask for a team with him!" She defended and she only got a soft chuckle from him. In just a few seconds, his attention is at the enemy again. So cool. Sakura told herself.

"Ahhhh!" The zetsu cried all of a sudden after he was able to make an eye to eye contact with Sasuke who activated his sharingan. He let go of Sakura so he can focus more on his genjutsu.

"Aside from not dying. What else can you do?" He asked and his eyes full of hostility. He was the culprit of the creation of this world; he is the reason why the medic-nins died while they're trying to save him from his sleep. He dragged his wife into this mess and if she didn't wake up, he don't know how to face his daughter anymore after years of absence. "I'll answer it for you." Sasuke continued. "Nothing." This time Sasuke preferred to use his own fist to punish him.

"Aside from not dying, you can't do anything else." He started to punch him continuously in the face.

"I'm a living soul in this place…y-you can't k-kill me with this. I will live on." He said, the zetsu knew the body he is using won't last long. It will die soon if this continues. Sasuke didn't stop and hit him harder until he bleeds to death.

"This is for my wife!" He yelled and landed another brutal punch. "And this is for my daughter!" blood splattered all over his face and chest.

Sasuke didn't realize Sakura is hugging him from behind. His knuckles are dripping blood, he can use many ninjutsu to punish him, but he chose to use his own hand to feel the goodness of killing him.

"That's enough." She cried, not removing her hands.

"Move away. Do you know that she threatened my daughter?" He told her.

"How will I know?" Sakura cried. "Just stop!" She forcefully grabbed his hand. "I don't know what it feels to be a parent. I'm in no position to say this." She started. "But I can feel your frustration; I understand how it feels when your love one is in danger and you can't do anything about it… So please?" Sakura doesn't want to see him hurt in process.

"Hey! Hey! Slow down!" Sasuke looked more pissed than ever for the new guy coming in who looks very relaxed.

"Dobe. You're so damn late." Sasuke finally moved away when he saw the team that Sakura called for. They started do their formation to perform the sealing technique.

"Well I'm here to steal your spotlight." His blonde friend said, hand pointing at the reinforcement team. "By the way, you're totally fine teme! Does this mean that this old bastard finally remembers us? Sakura-chan?" Sakura nodded at him. "Welcome back!" Then he tapped his back cheerfully.

"Where's my brother?" He asked him.

"He's actually at the hospital, checking some things…" Naruto and Sakura quickly exchanged looks.

"Why? I'm sure he knew already that he doesn't have a house anymore." He said. Sakura feels sorry for Naruto who received all of his anger. But Naruto continue to ask him question how he was able to remember again, talking about what will happen next after defeating his enemy.

A few minutes later, the zetsu's body turned pale until it became purple. They didn't recognize whose body it belongs to after what Sasuke did to his face. With this, he can finally go back. The physical body of zetsu is dead in real world so he won't be revived anymore once Sasuke escaped in this tsukuyomi. He got his rinnegan back and the only left is to restore his own memories. Indeed it was the longest dream he ever experienced, the dream he considered a nightmare.

"Ano, Sasuke-kun." Sakura said. He felt a tug on his sleeves and see her pretty emerald eyes on him, she wasn't even trying and she was able to get his full attention right away. "There's something important I need to check right now." Sasuke just nodded without even realizing she is asking his permission to leave the place.

"Sas-" Before she turned around to leave, he pulled her right away, he don't care embracing her in front of Naruto and the others.

"Thank you Sakura." He wanted to ask where she is about to go but he chose to wait for her explanation.

"See you, Sasuke-kun!" All of a sudden, she disappeared in a puff of smoke. He was surprised for a moment and later realises that might be the last time to see her.

"Teme..." Naruto interrupted. "Uhm, how should I say this… did Sakura-chan told you?" He asked.

"Told me what?"

"Uhm.. N-nothing!" I knew it, there's something that these three is not telling me. Sasuke thought. Naruto didn't continue anymore after seeing his expression.

"What is it?"

"Aaaa, err, teme, I think you should ask her yourself." Naruto quickly changed the topic. He made a promise with the Hokage that he won't tell him the truth, unless he asked Sakura or he will see it in his own eyes, since it involves the boy that they found at the training grounds.

It took them 6 hours and 4 medic nin including Karin to do the operation that afternoon. All of those life events; and information in the past which has been stored in him due to a temporarily linking of Sakura's chakra are carefully unlinked in his brain. After it, they're able to release the scroll where the zetsu kept his real memories. It was a successful operation, gladly; Sasuke doesn't have a brain injury that they have to deal with. Everything went well and he's currently sleeping after the operation.

On the other room, at the same time, Sakura is also sleeping on the bedroom of her own patient. Her patient was a boy, a leaf ninja who just fell into a coma for more than a month. His leg was fractured but luckily he can use it again, he said he got it from the training grounds where they found him unconscious a month ago. It was 2 weeks ago when he finally woke up; everyone told him many things had changed including Sakura, the girl he confessed his feelings before the incident.

After her fight with the zetsu, she came to his room and he let her rest in his bed since he's already fine and he can take care of himself. She's been busy with this young shinobi during her regular working days while her day-off is scheduled at the Uchiha Compound.

As much as she wants to be with Sasuke once he got his memories back, Shizune didn't allow her. Leaving a note to his room is the only thing she can do. The note tells him to meet her tonight at their secret place, so she can say a proper goodbye to him.

Sakura finally found happiness with that boy. They were the same age, they're not yet exclusively dating but she preferred it that way, both of them are taking their time to go the next level of their relationship since they just started.

At 10 in the evening, the moment she opened her eyes, she see the boy standing at the window, watching the people in their kimonos. She grinned at him. Just by looking at him reminds her about the other patient in this hospital, thinking if he was able to get her message. It's time, Sasuke-kun will go back and I want to see him for the last time. She thought. This time, she's prepared and she will not cry.

I remembered the first moment you talk to me; you told me I look young.

You treat me indifferently. And even after your confession, you don't even hold me like I'm yours; you became so careful like I'm a fragile little child. You don't treat me as your woman, but take care of me like I'm your daughter.

You said, you are from the future, but I guess you not just telling me everything.

When you lost your memory, that's the first time I saw your innocence when it comes to love. You respected our relationship when Naruto told I'm your girlfriend even though you are clueless who I really was in your life.

Even you are 8 years older, or you grew older and older, I think I will always find things to like about you, and eventually, falling in love you, over and over again.

She was lost in thoughts, imagining her reunion with Sasuke.

"What day it is?" The boy asked her suddenly.

"Ah. There's a firework festival today." She hurriedly fixes her hair and look for her bag.

"Oh." The boy had some things to catch up since he just came back from a coma. Sakura told him his case is still under investigation because no one knows who put him in that state. He was actually missing for a month and she was surprised when someone informed her he was secretly admitted to the hospital. It was the Hokage's orders he said but Itachi suspected it might be the zetsu's actions.

He never get the chance to go back home. He was ordered to stay at the hospital until they give him a memo that he can resume to his duties.

"Wanna go?" The boy asked. Sakura's heart suddenly stopped. His shoulder dropped, for a moment, he looked hesitant. This guy never asked her out, so she was curious. They locked eyes then, noticing he's just being shy, and might be patiently waiting for an answer. Why at a time like this! She wanted to scream at him. "Want to go together?" He asked again. It's the worst timing to ask her on a date for the very first time, simply because she already set an appointment to meet another guy. And this boy is not permitted yet to go out of the hospital.

Just like before at the Feudal Lord's castle, she faces another once in a lifetime decision, she need to chose one. Sakura nearly panicked, because she doesn't want to miss this chance. "Sorry but I need to meet someone else." Tears started to form at the sides and dripped down to her cheeks.

"R-really?" He is so stunned that he can't find other words to say.

"But I'll be back. I promise!" She turned and left with no further words. That night, he was afraid to ask who she is going to meet during the festival, imagining that she's going to watch the fireworks with another guy and have their dinner together. He's afraid to ask.

When Sakura finally reached the valley of flowers, the place where she met Sasuke on her wedding night, the place where he answered all of her questions, what is the name of their daughter and how did they start together.

And the hours pass by. Uchiha Sasuke, the time traveller, didn't show up. Tears started to fall on her eyes, while walking alone in the middle of the night, the scent of flowers filled the air, letting her reminisce the moments with him. She ended up blaming herself, regretting her unnecessary preparations, to make herself look pretty, even she's arrived earlier than expected.

The festival officially ended; the vendors' starts to pack their stuffs, street sweepers are cleaning the mess around the street, while the 19 year old kunoichi is sitting alone beside the water fountain at the park.

I guess I'm too attached to think about my future. Sakura thought she will not cry anymore. She's not mad at Sasuke, she's know she's just being selfish, he already made it clear that he needs to come back to his wife, and technically he is talking about her. This day is going to come whether she likes it or not. And her only option –to move on.

"Did you showed up late or did the bastard ditch you?" A voice asked, when she looked back, he is standing behind her, wearing the Konoha Hospital's green jacket and pajama. She giggled to see him there, very uncool and he didn't even change his clothes. When she looked down, she finally gives into laughter because he is wearing her pink fluffy slippers she left that night.

He sits beside her, and looks much more dignified to be able to see her smiling even the evidence in her eyes were obvious. He's actually planning to spy and he didn't expect to see her on the way.

"He didn't show up. I know this is gonna happen because he was in a hurry anyway."

"Sorry about that." Sakura was surprised when he holds her hand suddenly, squeezing it gently. It warms her cold hands. There are many occasions that they hold hands but not like this.

"No! Don't say sorry!" She said, watching him with full amusement, because his nervousness is obvious. By watching his trembling hands, she realizes the beauty of two people who wants to start a relationship. On taking a step by step process in order to know each other's company. He is willing to do it. She's been so focus on looking at other things about their future, while he's there beside her.

"You don't have a choice now but to be with me." It sounds more like a rule that she need to follow.

"Don't say that. You know that's not how I see it." Sakura answered. "I should have considered your invitation instead of going there." She said, faking a smile at herself.

"Do you love him?"

Sakura looked at him with her pained expression. Their hands are still connected. "I do, but I l-love you too!" She told him shyly, her hands started to feel awkward she loses her hold but he squeezed it more.

"That didn't sound good to me." He sighed. "I was in a coma for so long. The last time I remembered was I went to the cloud village to help you get back your license so you wouldn't have to marry the feudal lord. I wasn't there and I'm sorry." He said. "I failed."

"You know, to tell you the truth…" She starts to feel nervous; she's going to violate now a Hokage's order.

"Sakura, I don't judge you. Don't force yourself."

"But I- I can explain." She wipes her tears again. "I didn't know you're confined in a hospital, and actually, this man that I met is…" She bows her head, because she can't do it. "I just want to tell that man – that I really love the valley of flowers." In the end, she lied.

"Sakura." He brings his face closer to her. "I'll bring you there as many times as you want." The boy said, a little bit irritated to talk about another guy.

"He suddenly showed up in Konoha, and telling me I look so young… the Hokage told me his identity should be kept secret, but he's not a criminal or whatever so don't worry." She said, adding more curiosity to him. "I thought he was you but actually he is not you!" She started but he interrupted her.

"Shut it" He said. "I can ask the Hokage myself." He doesn't want to imagine more about them, the truth is, and he doesn't really want to know. Well, I'm sure I'm better than him. He thought.

There was a pregnant pause. It's only the two of them at the park. That night beside the fountain, when he looked at her, she couldn't take her eyes off his dark orbs, his black hair and his stoic face. Sakura melted under his gaze. He cupped her chin, tilting her mouth toward him, and he bent down but Sakura pulled away from him abruptly, trying to hide her blushing face.

When she looks at him again, he didn't feel rejected at all. Because he is not going to waste this chance. He is dead serious. Finally, her shyness backfires; he lifted her chin even higher and finally closes the distance between their lips. He puts his other hand at her waist. She was drowning in the warmth of his lips. She gasped and he deepened the kiss, pulling her closer to his body.

When they break apart, she's the one gasping for breath, both of them not smiling. The boy is the first one to look away, pressing his lips together. His heart is beating like a drum. "You know, I had a feeling someone is watching us." He told her while hiding his stupid face celebrating in victory by putting the back of his palm on his lips. He steals a glance at Sakura's lips again and she smiles shyly at him.

The boy was right, because at few meters away, from a rooftop, there's a man in a dark cloak watching them. He doesn't know if he should feel disappointed or proud to see his 19 year old version flirting with her in the middle of the night in a public park.

Itachi explained to him he found his 19 year old brother at the training grounds. At the same time, Sasuke left the village with Karin to hide himself away when the Feudal Lord was killed. Supposedly there should be only one Sasuke in this tsukuyomi. Itachi concluded that the temporary tsukuyomi's power weakened that time, that's why the real Sasuke and the younger Sasuke from tsukuyomi coexisted.

Sasuke did the right thing, he have no time to be attached with this dream of his own. Even so, he thanked his brother for understanding him, it was a good time to live with him again, to spar with and have a little talk about this family and what his future plans for them. And before they part, Itachi told him how proud he was that he's able to find people who love him.

The last words of his brother kept playing in his head.

The last memories of watching Sakura with himself in the park kept playing in his head.

Everything was dark after that, and found himself floating in the middle of the black sea, glittering under the moonlight. He tried to swim, he tried to go farther but it's useless, because he's just there floating in the middle of a large body of water. Then he closes his eyes and smells the earth this time, he heard the chirping of birds around and heard loud noises from different people screaming his name. He can recognize Ino and Kabuto's voices while he can't recognize the others.

"Sasuke-kun! Open your eyes! God damn it!"

TO BE CONTINUED..