Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, but then you already knew that. : )
The long-awaited Chapter 25! I have a feeling there will be a good response to this Chapter, because it's long and I think it's good, so I cannot wait to hear what you guys have to say.

First, patrol duty is basically when a teacher walks through the halls to make sure that each class is supervised, so that no class is without a teacher.

Also, I'd like to tell everyone that I've started a LiveJournal. So now, instead of wondering if I've dropped off the planet, you guys can simply read (and comment, please!) to see how far I've come in updating. Sound good? Yeah. However, all the entries except the first one are friends-only, so you will have to add me before you can read the full thing. My LJ is the homepage link on my profile. So go add me when you finish reading. –smile-

Preeeesenting Chapter 25!

(.s.)
If you want to
I can save you
I can take you away from here.
So lonely inside
So busy out there
And all you wanted was somebody who cares…
(.s.)

"Excuse me, is Sasuke Uchiha in this class?"

The dark-haired teen looked up from the computer monitor when he heard his name in the middle of I.T. class. He found the source of the voice at the door—it was Shizune, the school secretary.

Kakashi walked towards Sasuke and put a hand on his head. "Right here."

"Principal Sarutobi needs to see him urgently," she said, casting her gaze on him. She wore an apprehensive expression. "He may not return to classes today."

The room erupted in whispers as Kakashi nodded. "Very well. Go, Sasuke."

He rose wordlessly and followed Shizune into the halls. She walked in small, quick steps; seeming very worried about something.

When they arrived, they found Principal Sarutobi at his desk. His serious expression seemed to soften as he saw Sasuke.

"Good to see you, Sasuke," a faint smile came to his aged face. "Please, sit down."

Sasuke sat in a small chair directly facing the principal's desk. "You too, Shizune," the principal gestured to a seat next to Sasuke's, and she sat promptly.

Principal Sarutobi turned back to Sasuke. "Today, the school received a letter addressed to you," he dug through a pile of papers, "identical to one that you have apparently received this morning at home, after you left."

He pulled out a black envelope with gray designs on its corners, and all of the colour drained from Sasuke's face.

He suddenly grabbed for it, and Principal Sarutobi pulled his hand back, noticing the previous appalled reaction. "I take it you know what this is, Sasuke."

"Give it to me," Sasuke ignored him, "so I can tear it up."

"Calm down," Principal Sarutobi said.

"I haven't gotten one of those letters in years," Sasuke clenched his fists.

"Sasuke," Shizune tried to calm him down, "you don't even know who it's from—"

"I know it's from him! It's frigging personalized stationery—that letter is from Itachi!"

A gasp was heard coming from the door, and all three persons in the office wheeled around.

"Sakura?" Shizune questioned. "Why are you here?"

The pink-haired girl's face flushed. She seemed to know she had heard something she shouldn't have. "Kurenai wasn't in my class… Tsunade was on patrol duty and she told me to find Shizune to get a substitute. Shizune was in here— oh, and she said to give you this important letter, sir."

She gave Principal Sarutobi the note. The principal then turned to Sasuke, sending a look that plainly said "I believe you about what Itachi did."

Swiftly, he ripped Itachi's letter into pieces.

"What—" Sasuke started, but the principal interjected. "You wouldn't need it unless you were actually planning to meet with him."

Sasuke was silent, and Principal Sarutobi turned to Shizune. "If Itachi Uchiha is seen on campus, it should be reported directly to me. He is strictly forbidden from meeting with Sasuke."

"Yes sir," Shizune said as she scribbled in her notepad.

"Sasuke, you're excused from your classes for the day," the principal continued. "Let's see what Tsunade's note says…"

His eyes narrowed, and then widened a little with realization. "You're excused as well, Sakura," he said to her disbelief. "I'll send a substitute to your class momentarily."

Sakura blinked as if to make sure she hadn't imagined that. "Shizune, send Tsunade and Jiraiya in here now, please." "Yes sir," Shizune said, and all three walked out of the office together.

The principal cracked a smile when the two teachers arrived. "I happen to know that Kurenai was not in her class because she had patrol duty."

Tsunade avoided the principal's eyes, wearing an innocent smile of her own. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"And sending her to my office with an 'important letter'—a blank paper? All of that just to get her to my office in time to hear Sasuke's situation? Brilliant plan. I'm sure Jiraiya came up with it, though."

Jiraiya sighed. "Okay, okay, you found me out."

"It's brilliant thinking like this that makes you a prime candidate for Principal when I retire."

"Principal? Whoa, no way," he pointed to the blonde next to him. "'Nade here is a much better choice."

Tsunade rolled her eyes. "If Jiraiya were Principal, there'd be cameras in all the stalls of the girls' bathroom."

"Great idea!"

"Although," Principal Sarutobi interrupted, "I wonder why you did all that?"

"I came up with it pretty much because 'Nade mentioned Sakura was cute," Jiraiya admitted unabashedly.

"I saw that weird envelope on your desk earlier and saw Itachi's name in the corner," Tsunade confessed. "Just wanted Sasuke to have a friend. I would've sent Naruto, but that kid's so inquisitive and hyper he'd probably have opened the letter and noticed it was blank. Sakura is more controlled."

"That Sasuke kid's gonna have a lot on his plate," Jiraiya muttered, "with Itachi… and even the students notice how weird Orochimaru is with him."

All three looked at each other. "Orochimaru better not mess him up."

Sakura walked slowly out of the school with Sasuke. They were in the school's courtyard, and it was quiet as everyone else was in class. Sasuke sat on a bench, and Sakura sat next to him.

"Are you alright?" she broke the silence that had settled between them.

"I can't believe he's back… I'm not ready to take the company from him—I haven't even graduated from high school yet."

With chagrin, he remembered that Itachi had graduated from high school at a very young age.

"Sasuke?" she tried to get his attention. "Is something wrong?"

"Everything is wrong," he groaned, knotting his hands in his hair and lowering his head. She was keeping him from thinking. Being annoying. He needed to think. Alone.

"You can tell me," Sakura said tentatively. "I'll try to help—"

"You can't help."

"Well," she faltered, "I'll listen to you, at least."

"He was always the favourite child."

Sakura looked at Sasuke's hunched form. His hands were still tied in his hair, and she couldn't see his eyes. "It was a given, and I could see why. He was good at everything. He set records for everything. No matter how hard I tried, it was clear I couldn't surpass him."

"I won't say my parents never cared about me. That would be a lie. But Itachi was always first. They were proud of him. He had the attention of everyone in the family. Every day I'd come home and find out how proud they were of some medal he won."

Now that Sasuke had started, he seemed to be on a roll. How long had it been since he was able to just vent to someone?

"He had everything he could ever want. And when he threw it away, he threw away everything I'd ever known."

Sakura watched Sasuke's hands drop from his hair to his legs. He leaned forward as he spoke, his voice more animated, still not looking at her.

"He took my entire family away; some of them died in front of me. No one believed me. The police were paid not to, everyone who knew his good reputation refused to. They thought I was jealous. Naruto and I used to dislike each other when we were younger, somehow I ended up telling him and we became friends. He introduced me to Shikamaru and Neji.

And I still have to live with that bastard Kadtsu. I have to live with someone who helped assassinate my family. Itachi got away with it; he got the company, the money, everything. And Kadtsu reminds me of it every day."

He exhaled roughly. It felt like a lead weight had been thrown off his shoulders. "Now, it's all up to me. I have to take the company from Itachi and rebuild the Uchiha family."

He glanced to the side at Sakura, who was staring at him without blinking. She was absolutely speechless.

For some reason, Sasuke felt concerned. "You can talk now," he said. But he didn't understand. It wasn't that she was not talking because she didn't want to interrupt. She wasn't talking because she couldn't.

"They died," tears welled up in her eyes, "in front of you?"

He began to realize the depth of what he had said. "You didn't need to know that."

"No one believes you?"

"Sakura—"

"Kadtsu reminds you? Every day?"

"Sakura—" he tried again, but the tears had started falling. She was crying for him, just like last time.

She held his hand in both of hers. "I'm sorry…"

"Don't be sorry for something that isn't your fault."

"But…" she started. "It's like the Sasuke I saw before wasn't the same person. It was an image Sasuke."

"I'm not as perfect as you thought."

"This Sasuke's the real Sasuke," she said, whispering the last part. "Imperfections and all. I promise to stay with you."

"That again," he thought. "That promise she can't handle again."

He looked at her to retort, but his eyes met hers. Darkness met a pure, green light. An innocent light that was going to do all it could to save him.

"I am," she said determinedly. And without warning, he pulled her into a hug.

And that's Chapter 25! The song used was 'All You Wanted' by Michelle Branch. (She's amazing, and this song is perfect. Go listen to it now.)

By the way, while this Chapter was still being written, I wrote a oneshot so you guys wouldn't be bored. It's ShikaIno, titled Watching The Clouds. So far the reviews are good, check it out and tell me what you think.

Now back to this story—the title finally makes sense! Been waiting ages to write that part. –smile- A little dosage of SasuSaku fluff. And Sasuke's received a letter from Itachi—wonder what it said? Will Itachi be making an appearance soon? What the heck is going to happen? Review for Chapter 26; and remember to add me on LJ!