Summary: Caught in a deadlock, the two Uchiha brothers have a final talk before the other dies. In between them both, a cherry blossom that had managed to capture both their hearts.

Pairings: Sasuke/Sakura, One-sided Itachi/Sakura

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, at all. All the characters belong to Kishimoto Masashi-sensei.

As Time Passes

Caught in a Deadlock

Two pairs of crimson eyes gazed at each other, one harsh and tired, and the other amused and twinkling. The owner of the more tired pair of eyes crouched on the ground, trying to catch his breath. His katana lay on the earth, its hilt beneath his open palm. The other male was standing, the tip of his own katana digging into the earth. In between them both, a pink haired girl with ferocious jade green eyes stood, her arms spread out open, shielding the one behind her. She held a defiant look on her face, defying even the most terrifying of the Konohagakure no Sato Missing Nin, Uchiha Itachi.

"You're such a foolish little brother, Sasuke. Didn't I tell you that if you wanted to kill me, you had to hate and detest me with every fiber of your being? That you had to live in a way disgusted by everyone? That you have to constantly run and cling to the last remaining shreds of your humanity?" said an amused Itachi, unmoving from his stand. Taking a good look at the female before him, he stretched out his hand and cupped her chin. "And here you are, dawdling, as you ensnare yourself a girl," he said darkly, "Pretty I might say."

"She has nothing to do with this, Itachi," hissed Sasuke, pain coursing through his body as he fell against the earth floor. The moon was shining dimly from up above.

"Oh but she has everything to do with this, my dear brother, everything," said Itachi as he tilted her face upwards, examining her even more. Sakura remained rigid, clearly defying what the elder Uchiha had wanted to do. "After all, whoever wins this deadlock claims the girl," said Itachi as he let go of his hold of her, "I'd say time will help her fall in love with me, as I have with her, when I'm through slaughtering the last of our Clan."

"I'm not some object to be passed down from brother to brother," spat Sakura, poison lacing her words. Itachi raised an eyebrow as he dared her to speak further. "Sasuke-kun didn't go to some store and just buy me, I had to earn his recognition, his acceptance," hissed Sakura.

"Who said it was your Clan? You are no longer part of the Uchiha you once knew twelve years ago, Itachi. I am what is left of the Clan," seethed Sasuke, struggling to stand up with his katana in his hand. Focusing his scarlet gaze on the kunoichi's back, he managed to let a small smile out, even in the midst of such a dangerous time. "And I'm not letting you take hold of Sakura. Even if it means dying to let her run away, I will do everything for her safety," he spat angrily.

"How adorable, you have finally become human after all that hell you have gone through," said Itachi lightly, not at all worried. Raising his katana, he positioned himself into the final stance. "Say your last words to your woman, little brother. I will grant you at least that," said Itachi calmly, the black of his Sharingan swirling dangerously.

"Sakura, do you trust me?" asked Sasuke, lowering his voice as he fell down in his stance. The pink haired girl froze, wondering what he was about to do. It seemed like forever while she hadn't replied. "Sakura, do you trust me to know that I will do the right thing?" he asked again, his voice still low. Closing her eyes, she let her tears trail down her face.

"Yes, yes I do trust you, Sasuke-kun," she whispered as she relaxed her shoulders, "Otherwise; I would have never given you my heart to protect."

The last word she had spoken acted like a signal for the two of them to draw their last attack. When Sakura had opened her eyes again, she felt cold and all she could see was white.

Have I died?

Sakura blinked once more, trying to see if it was just her mind playing tricks.

If I did die, I hope Sasuke-kun was the one who won…

Sakura felt a jolt of warmth attack her system as she closed her eyes as if to succumb to death. Opening her eyes once more, her jade optics could see a tall stature and a sword pierced through his heart, the sword held in the figure's hand barely an inch away from her own body. Her right side felt a throbbing pain. Tilting her head sideways, she saw Sasuke's tired and haggard face, her body held against his.

"Sasuke, you were always the better one between the two of us, even if I have overshadowed you for the past nineteen years of your existence," muttered Itachi before falling towards the forest floor. He was dead before his body even hit the solid earth.

"I'm sorry," said Sasuke as he held her close to his body, tears falling down his face for the first time. Sakura had never seen Sasuke cry before.

"It's… it's alright. I can always close it up again you know. I'm not a Medical Specialist for nothing," she said, trying to lighten up the mood.

"I've wounded you," he said plainly, the tears continuing to fall unconsciously.

"No, no you haven't," said Sakura firmly as she performed a few hand seals. Pressing her glowing hand to her side, she had sealed the wound. "See? No cut whatsoever." Sasuke still didn't believe her. He was growing hysterical.

"I've still wounded you, Sakura!" he said, delirious from the shock that he had finally killed his brother, the man who had ruined his life. Roughly, Sakura pressed her lips to his, effectively silencing him. Usually, the salty taste in their mouths when they kissed was from her tears. This time, it was from his.

"No, no you haven't," she said once more when they pulled away, "You told me to trust you and I did. How can the person I trust with my very life wound me?"

Sasuke stared at her, wondering what she was getting to.

"You don't have to stay in this line of thought, Sasuke-kun. You're no longer caught in a deadlock. You have another purpose now," she began as she cradled his cheek in her hand, "And that's to live life as an ordinary shinobi of Konohagakure no Sato."

Seizing her lips, he kissed her with everything he had in him, never mind that the dead body of his brother was near them.

You were always the better one of the two of us, little brother, even if I have overshadowed you for the past nineteen years of your existence.

--- Owari ---

I was bored and I wondered how this would turn out, you know, what would happen if the final Uchiha showdown took place and Sakura was in between them both.

About how Sasuke killed his brother. He used Sakura as a shield so Itachi wouldn't know where the blade was coming from. Because he loves her, he pulled her aside the minute the tip of his katana scraped through her side to get her out of the range of Itachi's katana. You know what happens next.

And the one-sided Itachi/Sakura thing, you can sort of see it! If you squint you eyes and stare really hard…

I hope you liked that! It's been a while since I last wrote a Sasuke/Sakura one-shot.

Side note. Check out my fanfiction archive. The URL is: http / fidelis .hakkai .net

Take out the spaces and you're there. I advise you to check it out because there may be fanfics there that aren't in fanfictionNET.

In any case, these stories aren't going to be long, since they're the type devoid of any major storyline. If these one-shots inspire you to write any more, by all means go ahead.