GOMEN NASAI! –bows- Forgive me! It's been so long since I've updated and I feel like such a hypocrite… demo… I lost my black note book –cries- it held my plans for the rest of this story! Now I'm trying my hardest to pull these thoughts back out from my memory. The only problem is… my memory sucks ;-; gomen nasai. Maybe I left it over at a friends house or something but… eehh… this sucks. I wish I could find it! Pray with me to find it minna-san ;3! I won't give up! (PS I got bored and made something for all of you. Look for it at the end of this fic!)

Other (big-ish) news: It's my birthday tomorrow (teh 20th of March)! I'll be fifteen (w00ters):3

To the reviewers:

bows- Arigato to those who reviewed! I'm trying to get this chapter out quickly so I'm not doing individual replies but I do have one question to Yuen-chan: No chapter 13? –blinks, looks at chapter 13, blinks, reads Yuen-chan's reply, blinks, falls over from confusion- Ah ha… please explain, ne?

Recap:

Sasuke sighed and turned to face Naruto. He gave Naruto a small, rare smile before picking up his back and holding out his free hand.

"Ready?" He asked.

Naruto nodded and eagerly took Sasuke's hand, "Yeah."

Good Night My Knight!

Chapter 16: Three Years!

Naruto inhaled as a fresh breeze blew over him. He couldn't believe that almost three years had pasted since he'd left this place with Sasuke, Shukaku and Kitsune. Things hadn't changed one bit. The swaying green trees, the beautiful endless blue sky, the lake just over to the west of the Uchiha Manor, the Uchiha Manor itself hadn't changed. It still stood looming over the village below almost in a protecting yet fierce kind of way. Naruto could remember back to when he'd first seen the place. It was captivating… beautiful beyond worlds. It's grand, aged structure that gave that feeling of something… wise? Perhaps. It was just something Naruto couldn't quite describe. A grin took his face as his hands were tucked comfortably behind his head. It was time…

"Ne, dobe? Don't just stand there all day day-dreaming or else we'll leave you behind."

"Eh! I'm coming! M-Matte yo Sasuke!"

xoxoxoxoxoxox

"They've made it back… ne?"

"Hai, Orochimaru-sama. They arrived this morning."

"Then they should be coming here soon."

"Hai."

Kabuto's head was tilted as he bowed giving Orochimaru the information on Sasuke and Naruto's return to the Uchiha Manor. It had been almost three long years of recovering and growing for Orochimaru. He'd often thought of taking over the Uchiha Manor while Sasuke and Naruto had been gone… but he'd known that Itachi would be a problem. Jiraiya as well had stayed in the area and if he'd joined forces with Itachi would probably have little trouble against Orochimaru. That was why Orochimaru needed Sasuke. With Sasuke he could regain his previous powers. His powers had began to decline while he had been staying at the Uchiha Manor. That's why… he wanted Naruto to help him. Naruto would prove helpful in restoring his powers… but Sasuke was also quite a catch.

With Sasuke he would be able to get close to the Manor with ease. As long as when they came for him he killed off everyone and took Sasuke's body… no one would know. This way Itachi's assassination would be simple and then he would be the heir to the Uchiha Manor… holding power over all in this area.

Orochimaru allowed himself to give out a chilling laugh.

It was only a matter of time.

xoxoxoxoxoxox

"They've gotten quite strong! It should be no problem for them to take on Orochimaru now." Kitsune said as she watched Naruto and Sasuke talking from a high window.

Itachi sat at his desk shuffling through papers as he listened to Kitsune talk, "I suppose then you will be heading off to find Orochimaru soon?"

Kitsune turned, "Hai. Soon. It shouldn't be hard to track down Orochimaru. I'm sure the snake is waiting for us more than hiding from us."

"Aa…"

Itachi sighed and stopped shuffling through his papers. Reaching up he removed his glasses and rubbed his sore eyes (A/N: Mmm Itachi in glasses x3 –drool- lol). This had been quite a day. Since Tsunade had left with Sakura, he'd been given the position of Hokage, temporarily at least. He never knew how much damn work was involved.

"I'm sorry I won't be able to join you…" Itachi said quietly.

"Don't worry! You have enough to do. Shukaku, Jiraiya, Tsunade and I will all be going with Naruto and Sasuke. They'll be in good hands."

"I have faith in that. Will you be staying the night?" Itachi asked.

"Yeah… we figured staying here and resting up a bit would be wise before heading out."

"I guessed as much… then please, feel free to access anything you wish in this castle. If you need anything from the armory or weaponry help yourself. It's not like any of it will be used by this place for a while anyway."

Kitsune smiled, "Arigato."

xoxoxoxoxoxox

"And then when we come back we'll go out and get ramen!" Naruto said as he swung his feet while sitting on the small stone bench.

Sasuke gave a small smile as he listened to Naruto talk about what they would do when they got back from fighting Orochimaru.

"You sure seem confident…" Sasuke said propping his elbow up on his knee.

"Because I know we'll be fine!"

"Hn… I wish I could be as optimistic as you."

"Sasuke! You're just too negative! I couldn't… I can't imagine what I'd do if you… if you got hurt." Naruto said sadly.

Sasuke looked over and lightly reached up to ruffle Naruto's hair, "Don't worry. I'll be with you no matter what, dobe."

xoxoxoxoxoxox

I know, I KNOW! It's short! You have every (and I mean every) right in the world to throw your left shoe at me! But in turn for it's awkward and kind rushed shortness I bring you a piece of my randomness! Here it is (dun, dun, dun!)… a picture of my room (drawn… for the moment… perhaps one day I'll give you photos! Lol… I heart my room) Go to the address I'm about to put in and just take out the spaces:

(put in the regular http: then two / thingys (won't let medo it) then put in:)img . photobucket . com / albums / v245 / Anukis / mehroom . jpg

(o.o lotsa spaces there…(remember to take them out! ;p))

OKIES! I love-ith you all! Please forgive the shortness of this chapter! If you don't feel like forgiving, then please, throw your left shoe at me ;-; (or if your bored or something o.o meanies x3).

Anukis

(PS! Excuse any grammar/spelling/whatever mistakes! I didn't read over it ;p)