Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Chapter 11: Sasuke's return.

It has been quite a few years since Sasuke left Konoha village. Naruto's attempt to "persuade" Sasuke to come back to his friends failed. Sasuke left in the middle of the fight. Orochimaru's influence had become to great and it made Sasuke hungry for the power that Oro could give him.

Now they have all grown and they are 17 years old. Naruto and Hinata are a couple and so are Shikamaru and Ino, and Neji and Tenten. Anko and Kakashi are happily married and so are Kurenai and Asuma.

Sakura had tried her best to move on with her life. Tsunade trained her and she has become very strong. Training was a good distraction. However Sasuke was still on her mind. She made sure that no one noticed that she missed him, because after all he didn't deserve to be missed after what he has done. She even dated a couple of times with a few boys she has met over the years. Lee was still trying to snatch a date with her, with no success. Speaking of the little devil...

"SAKURA!" Lee was running towards Sakura who was sitting on a bench with Ino, Hinata and Tenten. Sakura stood up to see who called her. She saw a black haired guy with thick eyebrows in a green outfit with his arms spread before him getting ready to hug Sakura.

"Sakura-chan!" Lee was now very close and jumped towards her. Sakura took one step aside and Lee fell down.

"Hello Lee-san." Sakura looked down at him and smiled.

"Aah, Sakura-chan. We've known each other for so long and you still don't let me hug you. Why?" Lee was sitting on the ground and pouted.

Sakura looked up at the sky. "Sasuke-kun..." She looked down again and smiled. "Ok then, just this once."

Lee jumped up and started jumping up and down. "Yay, yay, yay!" He hugged her tightly. So tight that Sakura tried her best to breath.

"Lee-san you can let go now." Sakura whispered with her face all red, because of air shortage.

Lee let her go and started crying. "This is the happiest day of my life."

"Don't get to excited Lee-san, it's just a hug."

"How about a date then?"

Sakura hit him on the head. "I told you not to get overexcited."

"Au..."

The girls all giggled and Lee left.

"Well Sakura, it has been fun, but I promised Shikamaru that we would go together to the festival tonight and I still need to do some shopping. So... I guess I'll see you later?"

"Oh no, I'm not going to the festival."

"Why not, it's going to be fun. There is this fun ride for couples. You should bring a date. I know this great guy. He is..."

"No, no, no, the last time you hooked me up with someone I had a terrible time. That guy just kept going on and on about himself and how great he is. What was his name again? Oh yeah, Joey." Sakura felt like punching someone when she said his name."

"Uhm... I know a guy."

The girls all turned to face Hinata. Hinata has opened up a lot since she had a relationship with Naruto. She has actually become very talkative.

"Well. Spit it out. Who?" Ino started to become impatient. But she was probably just upset, because Sakura thinks that she has no taste in boys. It didn't matter anyway, because she had Shikamaru now.

"He is a cousin of mine. His name is Hayate and he's 18 years old."

"Oh! Then you should definitely go with him, because Neji is also a cousin of her and he's hot. Too bad, he's already taken." Tenten had a big smile on her face.

"Thank you for reminding me of that Tenten and Hinata thanks for the tip, but I think I'll pass."

"Ah, come on Sakura. Please. Do it for me. Do it for all of us. The festival just wouldn't be the same without you." Ino put on her puppy eyes to convince her old friend to come.

Sakura thought about it for a moment. "It would not be such a bad idea. It's a great distraction to get my mind of Sasuke. And maybe that Hayate guy is nice company."

"Well ok then. Hinata just tell Hayate to meet me there. I guess I need to go shopping as well."

"Great! Lets all go together." Tenten suggested.

They all agreed and they were off.

There was a dark and a mysterious shadow moving around in the forest. It was night and the moon shone brightly. It had reached the gate of Konoha village.

"Home... Finally I'm home, Sakura..."

Sakura put on a cute pink kimono, which matched her hair perfectly. She had her hair in a bun and let some hair fall down her cheek in the front. She put on some lipstick and went downstairs.

"Mom, I'm leaving for the festival!"

"Already? It hasn't even begun yet!"

Sakura looked at the clock and realized she was an hour to early. "Shit."

She decided to go outside and read a book on the veranda. She randomly picked out a book and sat on a rocking chair. It was nighttime, but it was still warm outside. There was a gentle breeze. After 5 minutes of reading she realized, that she was reading a romantic book. That was the last thing she wanted to read, so she placed the book on the table beside the chair and stood up.

She went to sit on a step of the veranda. She closed her eyes and took great joy in the wind blowing her hair. She had a smile on her face. She quickly opened her eyes. She heard a noise. It sounded like someone stepping on some leaves.

"Is somebody there?" She glanced over the yard. She saw something moving in the bushes.

"Come out if you don't want me to hurt you!" She stood in her fighting stance.

"Sakura..." The unidentified person came out of the bushes.

Sakura's eyes widened. She couldn't believe who she was looking at. He was hurt and had wounds all over. Tears started to well up in her eyes.

"Sasuke... Sasuke is it really you?"

Sasuke's gaze was woozy. He managed to look up and stare into Sakura's eyes. He smiled and then he passed out. He fell onto the floor.

"Sasuke!" Sakura ran over to him. "Sasuke! Sasuke-kun!"

"Sasuke, open your eyes. Please. Wake up." Sakura had brought Sasuke to his old house and placed him on his bed. Everything was exactly the way he left it. She was sitting beside him on the bed.

Sasuke vaguely heard a warm voice and he slowly opened his eyes. "Sakura?"

"Yes it's me, thank goodness that you're awake." Sakura had a worried look on her face. "Are you ok?" She glanced at his wounds.

"Yes." He followed the direction her eyes were looking. "They're just scratches." Trying to reassure Sakura. He sat up straight.

"Oh good..." She looked away and stood up. She turned and smiled at him.

SMACK! Sakura slapped Sasuke in the face.

"Au! What was that for?!" Sasuke rubbed his now red cheek.

"Do you even have to ask?!" (If looks could kill.)

"Well at least give me the chance to explain!"

"I don't have time for you right now." Sakura turned around and walked towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Sasuke had a puzzled look on his face.

"I have a date!" She slammed the door shut and let a shocked Sasuke behind.