Kei-Kei Yuki: Okay, so this chapter might not be that good, cause I rushing to get it done! Sorry, if this chapter has failed some of you all expectations! : (

Beta: Ana-DaughterofHades

Reunion

Sai did not understand the value of emotions until he was assigned to Team 7 and earned a fiery punch from the kunoichi's when he addressed Naruko as 'a brainless-blonde-bimbo' and Sakura as 'an ugly-old-hag.' It honestly amazed Yamato when he saw Sai's body fly straight through a concrete wall before landing with his head buried in the ground. 'Hot-tempered and unbelievably fierce. How did Kakashi-san manage these two?' Yamato felt shame for admitting it, but Sakura's and Naruko's display of strength had terrified him as it was like watching two lady Tsunade's.

It was during the reconnaissance mission concerning the spy Sasori told Sakura he had placed within Orochimaru's ranks, that Sai, a bit more careful with his words, seeing as that punch had enlightened him some, questioned the blonde on why she was determined to bring back Sasuke, despite him being labeled as a traitor.

"In a way, I feel responsible for him. Besides, it's not like I don't understand the reason why he decided to go down this path. If anyone was in his shoes, they would make the same decision, but you see... Sasuke is mentally fragile, and I don't want to see this decision destroy him. The guy is important to me, so I'll do everything I can to save him 'cause that guy is my teme!"

Sai would later think of the words Naruko said to him when he met up with Orochimaru, relaying Danzo's proposition to the snake sanin. After the said man accepted—leaving with Kabuto- Sai, upon entering their hideout, met the famous Uchiha Sasuke face-to-face. Only, their meeting had lasted a few seconds when Sai found himself on his knees, panting and dripping with sweat. The fear that had consumed him when Sasuke had placed him under a genjutsu left his limbs trembling. Unable to summon the strength to even fake a smile.

'He's too far gone, yet Naruko believes that she can still save him.' Recalling Naruko's speech and her smile of affection that stemmed from her past relationships with the Uchiha, an emotion Sai was unable to recognize as pity constricted against his chest. Because Naruko had no clue what she was getting herself into and how she would react upon seeing the man she vowed to save.

"Seeing what he has become will undoubtedly break her," said Sai to no-one but himself, and then later to Naruko after the team broke inside Orochimaru's hideout to locate him.

"No matter how dark he has become, I will save him. The bond between us is weird but strong." Holding a hand over her heart, Naruko looked up and smiled at Sai. "But it's a bond that can not be severed. No matter how hard that idiot teme tries!" Such words of conviction indeed left Sai speechless.

In his line of work, Sai had seen a lot of evil. He was aware that the world was not a beautiful place, and to survive, one must disregard all emotions. So after what happened with Shin, not wanting to lose himself to agony, Sai tossed aside all feelings. He had been a blank canvas for so long, but Naruko's radiance of colors had allowed him to open his eyes and thrive for something he viewed as unfavorable.

Sai found Naruko's naive hope, believing she can save Sasuke, utterly stupid but also very beautiful. Her face glowed, and her eyes sparked to life every time she spoke of her connection to the Uchiha. Despite Naruko calling Sasuke her 'friend' or 'rival,' those words went against the soft, affectionate look in her eyes that allowed people to read more into their relationship. Something that Naruko was either refusing to accept or was straight up oblivious to.

Sai had a feeling it was the latter. For the first time in his life, Sai found himself intrigued with something more than just his art, the reason behind him turning down Kabuto and deciding to go against his orders to assassinate Sasuke. Naruko's self-proclaimed bond to Sasuke had fueled Sai to lend his assistance to the blonde, and in the process, he yearned to protect that innocent, lovely smile.

Sasuke never thought that this was how his first meeting with Naruko would go, after that huge fight they had back in the Valley of the End. Despite the time that had passed, only a few noticeable changes caught Sasuke's attention. The length of her hair had gotten longer, and the style of clothing had changed, though it seemed the idiot was still obsessed with orange. Sasuke could sense that Naruko had gotten stronger during their separation. The avenger oddly felt a small sense of pride at this fact. Other than that, Naruko was still loud, feisty, and had those big blue naive eyes peering up at him, believing she had a chance of saving him.

The two stared at each other in silence, onyx peering into cerulean, until Sasuke lifted an eyebrow when he saw the corners of Naruko's lips lift upwards, displaying a smirk as she looked up at him and said, "Two and half years have passed, Sasuke, and yet... " Her voice was calm, sweet even, as Sakura, standing on the sidelines, worriedly stared at her teammate. Wanting to reach out towards her when everyone saw that smile vanish and Naruko suddenly threw a tantrum much to their disbelief.

"Yet, you still look like a girl, teme?! And what the heck is up with that weird outfit! You look like a total emo! At this point, Sasuke, I feel like you have zero sense in the fashion department!" Naruko blew a gasket. Those standing in the area had their eyes on the fuming blonde who was too busy glaring at Sasuke.

Sakura had a hard time understanding Naruko's emotions- finally meeting their ex-teammate that Naruko repeatedly kept talking about, yet the first words she said to him were dissing his looks and clothes. Then again, Sakura chuckled, earning looks from Sai and Yamamoto, she remembered in the past how Naruko would always say similar things to Sasuke.

"Idiot!" In a flash, Sasuke stood before Naruko, a hand resting on his katana, yet he did not unsheath it. "Leave. Stop whatever foolish delusion you have concerning me. Our paths diverged ever since that battle at the valley." Sasuke blatantly threw those words in Naruko's face just to hurt her and to let his point get through to her.

Yet instead of getting riled up like she would have in the past, Naruko did something unexpected. The blonde smiled and cupped his face in her hands. Sasuke winced when he noticed how the grip of her hand tightened as she brought his face forward.

"So what? Do you expect me to yell at you and throw a tantrum, sprouting how much you mean to me? Like I'm some brainless, hot-headed fool? Sorry to disappoint you, but that's so cliche. Besides I'm going to need to be stubborn if I'm going to get my point to reach you." A cruel, twisted smile marred Naruko's face, the whisker marks on her cheeks deepening; ruby-red fox eyes gleamed dangerously. Bringing Sasuke's face so close, he felt her breath tickling his face.

"You forgot, Sasuke, I've been with you the longest. I know you inside and out. I know that if I want you to return to my side... I'll have to break all the bones in your body, tie you up, and force you back." Sakura's eyes widened and trembled upon the wild, vicious look plastered on Naruko's face. The Naruko Sakura was familiar with suddenly became a stranger, noticing how the blonde came off as a possessive kitsune with the way she stared and held Sasuke's face.

Moving her eyes towards Sasuke, the fear Sakura felt doubled tenfold when she noticed how deep inside those onyx pools burned a light of excitement at Naruko's declaration. In that next second, Sasuke's hands suddenly grasped Naruko's neck, but not harsh enough to the point where he could hurt her.

"Bold words, but you will not be able to back them up," Sasuke said to her, eyes taking in every feature of her face, sun-kissed tan skin, and blonde bangs framing those cheeks that still held baby fat. Deep within his consciousness, Sasuke acknowledged that Naruko had grown into a beautiful kunoichi, but sadly her brain cells did not cultivate.

"Teme, you have been away from me too long since you have forgotten just what type of woman I am."

"Oh, and what's that?"

"The type that kicks ass and takes names! When I make a promise, nothing on this earth can hold me back from achieving it. So prepare yourself, Sasuke." Naruko's current state spoke of how much the Kyuubi chakra's influence was getting to her. Her appearance and the way she growled were animalistic yet fitting, captivating Sasuke in a way that his body yearned for something.

Sasuke knew he was itching to fight her, to see just how much stronger she had gotten, but the second feeling he could not describe. It was foreign to him, but he knew he wanted to touch her, to grip her hair, to feel her skin and breath, pull and press that petite frame against his own. It was a strange sensation; he had never felt something like this before.

"I'm fully prepared," Sasuke said before awakening his Sharingan and plunging into Naruko's mind.

End of Reunion