Disclaimer: The usual, Naruto does not belong to me.

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After all this time, Sasuke seemed to not have changed at all. Truly it was as if he'd never left. Sakura wondered why he came back, it brought her joy but also doubt. Was Sasuke in trouble for something, is that why he came back?

Kakashi and Tsunade discussed the matter and concluded that Sasuke was no more than Orochimaru's victim. The village of Konoha buzzed about the Uchiha boy. He was the talk of the town these days. Even word of the Akatsuki had reached the ears of common Konoha citizens.

Soon word came from Hidden Sand, Kazekage Gaara was coming in a week's time for the jounin exam. Now all that was left was to choose those worthy of the ridiculously difficult exam.

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"Thanks for dinner Sasuke-kun!" Sakura smiled at her friend. She wore a turquoise dress (Chinese style with slits on the sides), which complemented her eyes.

The two sat on a grassy hill looking up at the stars, thanks to Sakura's violent insistence. Indeed her behavior had become more and more alike to Tsunade-hime's. They had a quiet dinner at a nice sushi restaurant, both sharing a bottle of sake. But Sakura bullied Sasuke in having no more than two glasses.

Sasuke looked over at the happy Sakura with a sigh, she obviously thought this was a date. She hadn't changed much in certain aspects. "Don't worry about it."

"Sasuke-kun?" She began cautiously.

"What?" He looked down at her, wondering why she was looking away from him. Instead her gaze was to the starry sky.

Sakura looked down now, "Why did you come back to Konoha?"

"…" Sasuke thought for a moment, wondering if it was an answer she should know. "Konoha is my home."

"Then why did you leave?"

"It was something I had to do, I don't regret it." He also looked up at the stars, "I gained the strength I sought. Orochimaru just wanted my body. Thankfully by the time I learned what I needed, he was killed."

"How did Orochimaru die?" Sakura looked at him.

"Itachi…" From that simple name, Sasuke was able to tell Sakura all she needed to know on that matter. She was more intuitive than Naruto and didn't need explaining.

A cold realization came to Sakura; Akatsuki was active again and based on what Sasuke was saying… Hidden Sound has been wiped out. To what purpose? It puzzled her.

"Is that why you came back? Because you had no where else to go?" Sakura's eyes reflected her worry and deep contemplation.

"You ask more questions than Naruto…" Sasuke smirked. "But that's not why I came back. I could have gone anywhere else. I could have trained in all the shinobi countries, learning and copying all their precious hidden techniques."

"But you came back to Konoha…" Sakura muttered with a smile.

"I came back to Konoha." He repeated her words and to his surprise she weaved her slender fingers in his own strong ones.

She smiled up at him before resting her head on his shoulder, "You made the right decision."

For a moment he didn't know how to react. He had a sudden impulse to hold her close, kiss and make love to her. Sasuke, taken back by his own sudden desires, controlled himself. But with all the years he had spent in torturous training, he allowed himself one bit of repose. The Uchiha genius turned his head and sniffed in her scent. Her hair smelled of the flower she was named after.

"Sakura…" He breathed out unknowingly.

She looked up and saw him looking at her with a look unknown to her. "S-Sasuke-kun…" Sakura raised her hand to touch his cheek gently, her own cheeks burning.

Did their lips touch? They were certainly close enough. But something interrupted them from knowing if something had indeed happened.

Naruto's voice sounded in the background, he seemed to be in frenzy. Sasuke and Sakura created considerable space between them as Naruto approached them.

"Sakura-chan! Sasuke!" Naruto finally caught up to them, pausing to take in the scene in front of him, "Whoa, am I interrupting something?" He grinned.

Sakura threw him a murderous glare while Sasuke rolled his eyes, almost looking lost. But both of them had reddened cheeks.

"What the hell do you want Naruto?" Sasuke asked, more harshly than intended.

Naruto grinned, "Gaara of the sand is coming here! I just heard! The jounin exam will take place in a week's time. Our names were nominated, so it looks like we're taking the exam together."

"So the Sand is coming to help judge the contestants?" Sakura asked, standing up.

"Apparently. After all Temari and Kankurou are already jounin right?" Naruto grinned.

"It seems a bit early in the year for the jounin exam… I wonder what's up?" Sakura wondered.

Sasuke soon stood up also, "Perhaps it has something to do with Akatsuki."

Sakura and Naruto stared at him.

"Sasuke-kun, is there something we should know?" Sakura asked, looking up at him.

"Tomorrow I'm going to go see Tsunade-sama. For now we should head off to bed Sakura." Sasuke said, walking past Naruto. "See you tomorrow dead last."

"See you Uchiha bastard!" Naruto called after him with a grin.

Sakura sped up to catch up to her friend, "Thanks again for dinner."

"Don't mention it… especially since I nearly burned down your kitchen…" He muttered with a sweat drop.

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Ooooh the jounin exam! Lots of action, drama, comedy and romance await you! Keep on reading folks: ) And try not to hurt Naruto too badly for interrupting them, he didn't know…

Thanks again to my reviewers! You all make me smile!