A/n:Thanks again for all of the support. Who knows if you knew this, but yesterday was Doctor's day...So happy doctor's day to all the people who work day in day out in tedious hospitals all day! And happy doctor's day to Dr Tsunade too! ;)

Hope you guys continue to enjoy this. If you found Sakura a bit ooc, just remember that she hasn't fallen for Sasuke- at least head over heels fallen- as of now. This chapter is mainly Sakura's inner conflict though.

Disclaimer: Yeah guys, I do own Naruto. And Michael Jackson has a tour in East Asia this month.

24th April, Ice cream cafe, en route to Tsunade's Office, San Francisco, California.

"Excuse me?"

Hinata asked at the same time Sakura did, not quite sure if they heard him properly.

"I'm so sorry!"

"W-why don't you say that again?" Hinata asked slowly.

The blonde brought a hand up to his lips and mimicked zipping them shut, before seeing Sakura's murderous glare in his direction, which prompted him to say, "I said that... This place has Ramen flavoured ice cream!"

"What? Gross!" Yuki piped in. Sakura hadn't even known that Yuki was listening to them.

Hinata put a hand on his shoulder and said, "We're not going to bite. We just want to hear it from you again, make sure we heard you properly."

He looked from Sakura, to Hinata, to Yuki, distraught, before finally giving in, his voice competing in softness with a mouse as he said, "I said..." he took a deep breath, "That-i'm-not-acctually-Sasuke-Uchiha-and-my-real-name-is-Naruto-Uzumaki-and-the-same-goes-for-the-person-you-call-Naruto-who-is-actually-an-idiot-called-Sasuke-who-is-the-real-head-of-the-Uchiha-Corporation"

He exhaled deeply.

Sakura headed towards a small open patio with coffee tables and wooden chairs, having 'Naruto' and Hinata follow, and sat down with Yuki. Hinata occupied the seat next to her as Sakura said, "Sit down and explain from the beginning."

He looked between the three of them again, and gulped saying, "It all began on that day when you both visited to make that small investigation."

He went on to explain how he freaked out when he saw that he, who had been in charge for the day, had kept the FBI waiting for so long, and so he decided to pose as Sasuke for the day. He sincerely apologized while adding that he hadn't imagined they'd be meeting each other on multiple occasions afterwards, and that he had only kept up the facade because his friend had asked him to.

"Sasuke's so gonna kill me." he added in an undertone.

Sakura reeled in shock from his explanation. What the hell? This person- Naruto, or Sasuke, or whoever he was- was trying to tell her that he had willingly switched his identity with his boss and best friend and deceived her- a federal agent. And both parties- stupid bastards at that- had an equal part in the ridiculous affair.

How on earth was she supposed to react to that? Shock, to begin with. They had been lying- not only to her- but to Hinata and the rest of her team, and even on the official reports, which would mean, indirectly, lying to the government. That was a criminal offence in multiple ways. And their reasons? What on earth was going on?

She inadvertently felt her mind stray back to a firm, hard body pressing her smaller, slender frame against the cool body of a black sedan, and soft warm lips upon hers, ravishing her mouth with a groan that sent pleasurable shivers down her spine.

If the 'Naruto' she had known had been a facade, then what did that make that? Yesterday...what name should she be giving to their physical intimacy? She hadn't given it much thought at the time- she was not one to look left right center for a relationship, but she had enjoyed her interaction with 'Naruto' the previous night- not only the physical aspect of their contact, but his character in general. He was such a refreshing change from so many of the people she was used to. If she were to start a relationship, above all else, the one thing she looked for in a man who appealed to her was commitment. And- dare she mention it- she had decided to give 'Naruto' a chance to show that level of commitment- and perhaps, for once, she had lowered the walls she so cautiously built around herself to protect her fragile heart, marginally- just enough to give her a chance at a relationship.

And now it all felt like a harsh slap in the face. The one time she decides to indulge in a relationship of that sorts, and it happens to be a deceitful coward who, with plenty of opportunity to expose the truth to her, chose instead to lie behind another man's identity. And she- so gullible and trusting- had never once even thought to doubt him.

All of the questions he had answered as 'Naruto Uzumaki' must have been a lie too. And what about the man she had called 'Sasuke Uchiha'? He had been lying too...though he seemed too innocent and eccentric to mean any harm by it, he still lied to Hinata. She couldn't stand for that either.

The detail bothering her the most, she realised, was why did he do it? Why did Naruto- or Sasuke- or whatever she wanted to call him- lie to her. If she went by her first impression of him and considered him a manwhore, or a playboy, then it just didn't add up. Why would a rich and powerful man with a taste for attractive women disguise himself as an ordinary orphan with a desk job? If he was truly trying to toy with her physically, then wouldn't 'hot rich billionaire' come across better than 'subordinate of said hot rich billionaire'?

She could try and argue that he was perhaps looking for somebody who appreciated him for more than a face value. Someone who didn't need him to be a billionaire, or rich or sexy, to stand by and support him.

Still, something was very fishy about the whole affair; but she was far too shocked, hurt and angry to pay it much heed.

She had been a fool to trust him, and she chided herself as such. He was an arrogant, deceitful bastard.

A liar.

She sat up in bed with a scream, panting heavily. A chilly sea breeze swept through the open shutters, but beads of sweat still rolled down her back as her clothes clung to her skin.

She was in a state of near terror as she shook violently.

A warm hand rested on her back as another offered her a glass of water. She spun round and took the glass of water, the cool water quelling her fear slightly, as her shivers subsided.

Her brother wrapped her into a strong embrace as she buried herself in his chest, shielding herself from the trepidity that invaded her slumber.

He soothed her, his voice laced with soft whispers of "It's okay", "It was just a nightmare", "You're safe now", "I'm here".

She unfurled from her rigid form as he asked, "What did you see?"

She shook her head vigorously and clung to him tightly.

"Brother?" her voice was small and frightened.

"Yes?" he asked with utmost patience.

"You won't ever leave me alone there again, will you?" she asked.

After a small pause in which he hugged her closer to him, he answered. "No I won't."

"I-is that a promise?"

"Yes. Yes it is."

She smiled bitterly at the memory of her beloved brother. That was one promise he could never keep.

He had promised. And when he left, the last name assigned to him was a liar. Not out of spite, nor anger. She looked back at her brother's disappearance with anguish. She had no idea of the circumstances of his disappearance. No matter why he left her, she could never bring herself to be angry with him. Just...sad.

She bore inherent malevolence towards dishonesty. Sometimes, given her line of work, it was necessary. But she hated people who couldn't face her without hiding cowardly behind another farce.

She hated liars- and that hatred boiled her blood in anger as she thought about how she, to some degree, trusted- had trusted- Mr Sasuke Uchiha.

What a mistake.

Her line of thought was interrupted as she heard Hinata laughing at something Sa-Naruto had said. Looking at the Hyuga, and her easy acceptance of the blonde, who was trying to make conversation with Yuki in earnest, and telling jokes to bring a smile on Hinata's face, Sakura decided that at least one of the two men was sincere. She could forgive Naruto, she decided, as she smiled amusedly when Yuki pointed out a large blob of ice cream on his forehead.

Sighing, she said, "Hinata? Do you think we should get going to the good Doctor's office now?"

Naruto looked up saying, "Doctor? Who's unwell?"

Hinata looked down at Yuki, and Naruto followed her gaze, a small 'oh' escaping his breath.

"I think you're right, Sakura. We should head off." Hinata said, standing up.

"Umm...so you're not mad at me and about to cut off all ties, are you? Hinata? Sakura?" he asked hopefully.

Sakura laughed as Hinata said, "No, Naruto, we aren't."

"Not with you." Sakura added.

Naruto's shoulders sagged with relief as he said, "Thank goodness! And...umm..." he turned to Sakura, "Please don't be too hard on that idiot Sasuke. Forgive him at least! Even accept my apology on his behalf! He may have kept his identity, but he's a good person! I swear it on my life! I'm sure he's sorry about making you think he was Naruto too! And I can prove it."

"Some things are up to him to prove. And there's some things that go past a simple 'sorry'." she watched his look of excitement switch with one of disappointment. Feeling a hint of sympathy, she said, "Naruto."

He looked up.

"You're free to drop by at the mansion to visit whenever you want."

His face lightened up, breaking into a grin, and he thanked them and hopped off, leaving her and Hinata to take Yuki to Tsunade's office.

Was pressed for time while writing this, so if it doesn't end on a note you like, sorry for that.

Anyone wondered what happened to Sakura's inner in my story? Well, I'll let you in on a hint; I have thought about it and there's a real good reason why she's not got an active inner...yet. Anyone want to take a guess at what I mean?

Hope you enjoyed! Read, Review, Follow and Favourite!

~Raven