First off let me appoligize for not updating in so long. This chapter is the shortest chapter I've ever writen for this story but the next chapter will be longer and hopefully up by next monday. So until then please enjoy the newest chapter to my story.

Winter Knight- Thanks for reviewing.

Saito Namikaze Reborn- Thanks for the review.

Naruto4Sakura- Thanks for reviewing.

GStarrahhxx72-Thanks for the review and I'm planning on wrapping this up by the end of the summer.

"If I was a writer I'd write a tale so great I'd change the world and if I was a painter I'd paint a painting it'd make grown men weep but I'm not so these secrets I will keep because in the end I'm too selfish to share with you the thing I keep locked up in side me."

Ch.21 Breath In, Breath Out

~Orochimaru's hideout~

Sasuke sat in the infirmary again, a familiar red headed teen made her way over to him. He remembered the first time he had meet her. It was right after he had arrived at Orochimaru's base, when he had entered the infirmary the red head had dropped the paperwork that had been in her hand, her jaw went slack and her eyes bulged out of her head. She practically started drooling as her eyes scanned over his body.

Sasuke had to cough out loud to finally get her attention. But once she had finally snapped out of her trance she had completely switched thought process and gone straight to work bandaging his wounds.

The same red head was now examining his knee poking and prodding it.

"Can't you just fix it" he complained

"Well I'm going to inject it with a new medication Kabuto made and if it works your knee should be completely healed in a day or two but I'm still going to put a brace encase it doesn't work." she said before walking away only to return with a syringe filled with a strange glowing liquid. "Oh by the way this is going to hurt a lot" Karin stated before jabbing him with the syringe and injecting his with the liquid. Almost immediately a horrible pain filled Sasuke's being causing his to release a horrifying scream before passing out.

When Sasuke regained consciousness he was in his own room, left alone to the thoughts that now swam in his head. He laid on his bed, with a hand resting over his eyes. His face had some bruising, his knuckles were raw from beating on his one time best friend, and his leg was in a brace. His mind was replaying the events of the previous night, the look of pure betrayal in his friend's sapphire blue eyes. The crunching sound of the blonde's ribs when he hit him and the way the air rushed out with a grunt of pain. His mind drifted from the events of last night to his childhood with the blond, the times he got him out of fights to the times they played soccer, football, chase, and the many other childhood games they played. His mind drifted to the last four years; school, Naruto getting him and Ino together, parties, dances, and just being a teen.

He though about all the mistakes he's made in the last few months everything that he had gone wrong, he didn't want to hurt Naruto but it was better than the blond being dead. Taking his hand away from his face Sasuke shifted so he was sitting on the edge of the bed and ran his hand through his hair. That's right hurt was better than dead, he was doing the right thing and from now on he wouldn't hesitate he'd earn Orochimaru's total trust and then use it against him and take down both his brother and the sick snake-bastard we was currently 'serving' under.

~Next Morning~

~Tsunade's Office~

The older blond stared at the man in front of her, his gravity defying silver hair messy with strands sticking out haphazardly. The man appeared much older than he was, a deep dark circle under his visible eye showed the lack of sleep he had had lately.

"Kakashi you look like shit" the older blond women said.

Kakashi ran a hand through his silver hair and released a tired sigh, "It appears as thought Naruto is discovering the dark past that we've tried to hide from him."

Tsunade interlaced her hands under her chin, everything seemed to just continue in a downward spiral that could only lead to one big disaster. In the middle of the night Sai had appeared and told her about Naruto and Sasuke's fight, she had almost rushed to Shikamaru's house but the dark haired artist had assured her that he would be fine and was in the capable hands of Sakura.

"I want you to go to Shikamaru's and check on Naruto" Tsunade said

"Actually I was already planning on doing so Lady Tsunade. He left a message for me yesterday but I was…..well you know where I was and I listened to it just before I entered your office."

~Shikamaru's House~

A muffled grown escaped the blonds lips as he opened his one eye the other was swollen shut; a horrible pain made itself known almost instantly causing him to release a small cry as it surged through his body.

"Naruto" Sakura asked suddenly wide awake next to him her voice full of worry, her eyes scanning over him looking for any blood or other abnormalities. Spotting none she looked back at Naruto who just looked at her dazed, she wasn't sure if it was from pain or a concussion.

"Naruto can you tell me what's wrong." Sakura asked

Naruto looked at her his head was all fuzzy and it made it hard to think but he knew he had to answer her. "He said sorry" Naruto mumbled out his words still slurred.

"What" Sakura asked extremely confused

"Teme…he said sorry" Naruto replied before closing his eyes and drifting back into a blissful sleep the pain temporally gone. However he left Sakura to just stare at him in disbelief.

Running a hand through her hair she looked at him for a few more seconds before getting off the bed and moving to the doorway. In the kitchen sat most of their friends they had all slept at Shikamaru's and Temari's opting out of going to their respective homes something that seemed to have become a common occurrence.

"How are you doing" A voice asked causing her to snap out of her thoughts.

"Oh Tenten how are you doing" Sakura asked

"I believe I asked you first" Tenten replied with a kind smile.

"I'm doing ok" Sakura replied

"So Naruto's not doing much better then" Tenten asked, she was able to read the pinklet like a book and it was obvious she was not okay.

"Well he hasn't gotten worse and he woke up for a few minutes but I don't think he was really aware of what was going on." Sakura replied.

"Sakura he's going to be fine he just needs some rest. I think you should get some breakfast and coffee and try to relax a bit" Tenten said

"I don't know I'm worried about him" Sakura replied

Tenten smiled at her softly, "So are we but we're also worried about you. So go get something in your stomach relax drink some coffee or tea and I'll watch over him for an hour or two okay" She said.

"Oh alright" Sakura said hugging Tenten and heading into the Kitchen where everyone else was.

Sighing Tenten went into the bedroom and took a seat in the chair next to the bed where Naruto lay, she couldn't help but feel sorry for her friends. Naruto's face was swollen to the extent were you could barley recognize him, he still had some blood splotches on his face and various bandages and bruises peaking out from under his clothes, it seemed as though the boy was always finding himself in these type of situations. Wither it was him trying to defend himself or his friends he was always finding himself in fights and sometimes he didn't always come out on top. Meanwhile Sakura was once again forced to sit and feel helpless at the situation the two had ended up in. Tenten honestly didn't understand how the two dealt with all of it and still stayed so strong for everyone else including each other.

Suddenly Tenten felt someone grip her wrist and her eyes snapped to Naruto's bruised and bloody knuckles. She looked to see his eye open staring at her. "Naruto what's wrong" she asked as she watched him look around the room before his eyes settled on her again.

"Help" he hoarsely out as he moved to sit up, she immediately moved to help him sit up so that most of his weight was leaning against her.

"Naruto what's wrong" she asked again sounding more worried than before.

"Sasuke" he replied

"What" she asked

"Sakura didn't tell you" He asked

"No she thought you weren't exactly well you know"

"In my right mind" Naruto finished Tenten's statement

"Yeah" she replied

"mmmmm" Naruto hummed his eye staring to close again

"Naruto what about Sasuke" Tenten asked but it was too late he had already dozed off again.

Carefully lying him back down Tenten quickly existed the room and went into the kitchen where everyone else was. Upon see Tenten enter Sakura jumped to her feet, "What's wrong is…is he okay…did something.." she was cut off however by Shikamaru simply placing a hand on her shoulder. "No nothing is wrong with him per say" Tenten said. "More of he's trying to tell us something but he keeps falling asleep."

"What's he trying to say" Sai questioned.

"Something about Sasuke he said he told Sakura." Tenten said causing Sakura's eyes to widen.

"Sakura what did he say to you" Neji asked noticing the pinklet's eyes widen.

"He said sorry Teme said sorry" Sakura replied in a quiet tone.

The group looked at each other with disbelief; had Sasuke done what he did to protect them or had Naruto just misunderstood what Sasuke said. Their musing however was interrupted by a grunted laugh, all eyes shifted to the doorway where the beaten blond stood leaning against the wall for support. He smiled at them with a lopsided smile, his face still badly swollen and bruised causing his one eye to be swollen shut, his one arm grasped his ribcage as if trying to hold his broken ribs in place.

"Naruto" Sakura cried out raising to run and support him, Garra already at the blonde's side helping him support his weight. Naruto smiled or as much of a smile that was possible trying to reassure her. "Sakura I'm okay" Naruto insisted as Garra and Sakura help him into a chair causing him to grunt out in pain.

"Naruto you shouldn't be moving" Shino said matter of factly.

"I'm fine" Naruto grumbled.

"No you are not fine Naruto! You were barely able to stay conscious earlier, you have a sever concussion, at least ten of your ribs are broken, and your punch drunk." Sakura protested tears running down her face.

"Sakura there are we have more important matters at the moment" Naruto said in a stern voice.

"NO I'M SICK OF THIS I'M NOT GOING TO STAND HERE WHILE YOU KILL YOURSELF WE'RE DONE" Sakura screamed standing up and storming out, Naruto jumped out of his seat and went to grab her only to crumple to the ground and grunt out in pain as he screamed, "SAKURA….SAKURA NO WAIT….SAKURA PLEASE" Naruto tried to pull himself to his feet only to crumple again. The others in the room sat stunned in silence as the sound of the door slamming echoed through the now silent room, Naruto's heart wrenching sobs filling the air.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter please let me know your thoughts with your reviews.

Soccernin19