Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Chapter 10: Back to reality

"Sasuke...? Sasuke...?"

Sasuke was standing in a dark room. There was no light at all. "Is anybody there? His voice echoed. "Is anybody there?" He asked again. He looked around him to see if there was someone.

"Sasuke? Hehe. What are you doing? You are never going to achieve it this way."

"Who said that?"

"Hahahahaha. It's me. Your best friend."

Sasuke recognised the voice. His eyes widened. "Oro... Orochimaru?"

"That's right."

"What? I don't understand. Where am I? How did I get here?"

"Shut up and listen to me you little pest! Hehehe I mean, friend."

"I am not your friend!"

"Well you're gonna listen to me anyways!!!" Orochimaru screamed.

Sasuke covered his ears. The voice was too loud. He glanced in the distance to find a way out. He started running.

"Fool, you can't escape me. I'm inside your head. Hahaha. Listen to me and obey. You want your revenge right?"

Sasuke stopped running. An image of Itachi appeared in front of him. He made a fist. "Itachi."

"Hehehe, I thought that would get your attention. Don't let the seal vanish. You need it. You want it. You crave it."

"No... No I don't care anymore! I have Sakura. Strength isn't everything! Love is!"

"Where have I heard that before...? Ah yes, Anko. Hehe, she was ignorant. Only the weak say such things. The weak, the ones that are unable to become stronger. You are weak Sasuke, but you don't have to be. Come to me and I will give you strength to get your revenge."

"No! Leave me alone!" He sat down and covered his ears. He didn't want to listen to him anymore. "There is nothing you can say to change my mind!"

"Oh really?" Orochimaru's voice sounded more evil than it already was. "Seek me out. You don't want anything to happen to your loved ones again now do you?"

Sasuke uncovered his ears. He had a shocked expression. He had flashback of the day his clan was wiped out. Tears began to show in his eyes. "Stop it."

"You couldn't protect them, you couldn't save them. What would become of you if something happened to your precious Sakura."

Orochimaru said her name with such mockery that Sasuke wanted to hit him, but he also realised that he made a good point. "Sakura..."

"You can't protect her the way you are now. Weak... Hehehe."

"Stop it..."

"Did you already forget that when you and her are a couple in public, it's like inviting your enemies to come and kidnap her? She is your weakness." Orochimaru's voice was low and cold.

"But Naruto said that..."

"Forget what that idiot said! If you don't act now, you'll lose the seal and then you're too weak to protect her from danger and then you'll lose her just like you lost your family! That's reality! Accept it!"

"Noooooo!!! No! NO! No!!!" Sasuke was sweating and he was struggling with his bed sheets, which were wrapped around him.

"Sasuke-kun! Sasuke-kun! Calm down! It's me." He calmed down and saw Sakura beside him with a worried look on her face.

"Sa... Sakura?" Sasuke was confused.

"Yes it's me. You scared me. We were kissing and then all of a sudden you passed out." She had a nervous smile. "What the hell happened?"

Sasuke stared at the wall, remembering what Orochimaru said. "If you don't act now, you'll lose the seal and then you're too weak to protect her from danger and then you'll lose her just like you lost your family!"

He stood up without saying anything and walked over to the window. It was still night time. He gazed at the stars.

"Sasuke-kun?" Sakura was still waiting for a reply. She walked over to him. "What's wrong?"

"My wounds are healed. It's time to go back to the village." He said, still looking at the stars.

Sakura smiled and hugged him. She placed her arms around his waist, since he was standing in front of her with his back. "Or we could stay a little bit longer, just the two of us." She kissed him on the cheek and placed her chin on his shoulder.

Sasuke turned around and looked into her eyes. Sakura was startled to see a cold expression on his face. Sasuke pushed her off him. "We leave tomorrow. Now would you be so kind to leave my room?"

"I don't understand. Why are you acting so cold? You care for me don't you? You... love me don't you?" Sakura had a puzzled look on her face.

"I never said that I love you. And as for the caring part, that was a lie. It was all a lie. I just felt sorry for you." He smirked.

"No... I don't believe you."

"Well that's too bad, babe. Now leave."

Sakura did not understand. What just happened? Sakura ran out of his room with tears in her eyes.

"I'm sorry Sakura."

The way back to the village was awkward. Nobody said anything. They didn't even look at each other. Sasuke just ignored her and Sakura was trying to say something to him, without actually saying something.

When they arrived they were greeted by a very happy Naruto. After a couple of weeks everything was back to normal. Sasuke was the silent one again. And Sakura and Naruto had their stupid little conversations. Kakashi was still making lame excuses for coming late for the missions. He even said one that could be the truth. "Anko was making me a big breakfast."

But then Itachi showed up...
Author's note: This part of the chapter refers to manga chapters 172,173 and 181.

"Ugh, my head. What's going on? Where am I?" Sasuke opened his eyes and sat up straight.

"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura embraced him. She was crying.

"Sasuke... you..." Naruto was standing by the door.

"What's going on here?"

Sakura was still holding on to Sasuke. Naruto ran out the door and Tsunade- sama also left.

A few hours later, Sasuke's memories were coming back to him. He was having flashbacks. I remember. Itachi. Itachi did this to him. That bastard. "He said I was weak."

Sakura was sitting beside him peeling apples for him. She had a smile on her face, thankful that Sasuke was ok. He looked at her, speechless. He was feeling sad.

"Yep! I did it this time... Sliced them nice and small." Sakura said with a happy voice.

-Sasuke has a flashback.-

"Thanks, you saved me from the grip of the sand, didn't you Sasuke?"
"No, it was Naruto who saved you." Sakura looked at Naruto and had a vague smile on her lips. Sasuke began to feel jealous and glanced in the direction where Sakura was looking.
"He fought with all his strength to save you... Unleashing a power we've never seen before."

-End flashback.-

"Naruto..." Sasuke started to feel angry. Sakura stood up and smiled. She blushed and said: "Sasuke-kun, want some apples?"

Sasuke ignored her and was still thinking about Naruto's growth of strength. "He became stronger in a short period of time and I can't even put a scratch on Itachi."

Sakura came closer to give him the apples. Sasuke slapped the tray out of her hands. Sakura looked shocked. "Sasuke-kun?"

Sasuke looked out of the window. "Yes, Sasuke-kun... Come to me. You want to become stronger don't you? You want to get your vengeance right? You want to kill him. No matter what it takes. Then come and find me."

"Orochimaru..."

"The cursed seal will go away once you find your true love."

"Anko-sensei..."

"Don't do it, Sasuke-kun. Don't go..."

"Mother..."

"You're an avenger, you only live to kill him. Come to me and I will give you strength."


"Why are you prowling around here in the middle of the night?" Sasuke looked at Sakura.
"I knew you'd come this way... if you were to leave... So I just waited here."
"Get out of here and go back to sleep." Sasuke passed Sakura. He took one last glance at Sakura from behind and walked away. Sakura was trying real hard not to cry.
"Why won't you say anything to me?"

Sakura started speaking. Sasuke didn't look at her. She was talking about their past together.
"I just want to get out of here before she could change my mind."

"I... love you with all my heart!!!"

"Sakura...loves me?"
He smiled and turned to face her. "You really are... annoying." He started to walk away again. "Don't leave!!!" Sakura was getting desperate so she just screamed. "If you do I'll scream!"

A breeze brushed against Sakura's hair. Sasuke was now behind her. She looked shocked.

"Sakura..." Sakura didn't want to face him, because then she would cry even more and it all went so fast. "Thank you." "For loving me..."

Sakura was shocked. "Did he just say thank you?"
"Sasuke-kun..." Sasuke knocked her out and placed her on a bench.

He looked at her and let his hand slide against her cheek. He bend over and kissed her gently on her forehead. Then he left.

Author's note:
Don't worry I will make sure that this story will have a happy ending.

I regret to inform you that I am going on vacation for a month, which means I wont be able to upload new chapters during that period of time. Gomen! But don't worry, as soon as I get back I will try and finish the story as soon as I can. Bye.