Chapter 4

Sasuke vs. Zaroff

It was already getting late. Sasuke walked throw familiar woods he had already crossed with his team. It gave him a few memories.

Flashback

As the two ninja attacked, Naruto froze. Sasuke appeared in between them, grabbing and tying their chains. He then held their weaponry and with a quick movement, kicked both of them in the face.

The battle was getting fierce. Although Kakashi was pulling through ok, Zabuza was still powerful. 'T-This is a battle of Elite Shinobi, I-Im outmatched, It makes me want to…" Sasuke grabbed his kunai but before he could do anything Kakashi spoke "Relax Sasuke, I'll protect you… with my life."

"Sasuke catch." Naruto threw Sasuke the closed version of the Razor Wind Shuriken. "Oh, so this is what he had in mind. Not bad Naruto." Sasuke threw the Razor Wind Shuriken to Zabuza. Zabuza caught it with his free hand. The second shadow of the first almost hit him, but he evaded it. Then, the shadow of the Razor Wind Shuriken transformed into Naruto. Naruto threw the kunai at Zabuza, who caught it with his other hand. They had done it. Kakashi was free.

Flashbacks end

Sasuke walked until he reached the bridge that lead towards the village. That bridge also brought memories. He walked on it and stopped when he reached the middle. "I know there's someone there, come out." I dark figure stepped out of the shadows and revealed himself. He was a tall, strong looking, Shinobi. He had a headband so broken up that Sasuke couldn't make out to which village he belonged to.

"Sasuke Uchiha, am I correct?"

"You are, who wants to know?" answered Sasuke, both ninjas looking at each other with the same emotionless faces.

"My name is Zaroff, Zaroff Uchiha."

"What? It… can't be, Uchiha?" Sasuke had dropped his guard completely, giving Zaroff a chance to quickly move and hit him from the back. Sasuke quickly stood up only to be kicked in the stomach leaving bent down.

"I am part of the Uchiha clan. Itachi didn't kill me."

Sasuke stood up. "Impossible, your not part of the Uchiha clan. That traitor and I are the only ones left."

"Not true, I have survived, alongside a few others." Zaroff smiled, he had Sasuke. But Sasuke quickly allowed his Sharingan to take control. "Ah, Sharingan, care to use it against me."

Sasuke quickly took out all of the kunai knives he had and threw the directly. Zaroff easily evaded them, but Sasuke appeared behind him. Sasuke kicked him on the back and threw him down. Zaroff quickly grabbed his leg and swung him around. Zaroff threw Sasuke, but Sasuke quickly recovered ground and punched Zaroff with all of his strength. Zaroff fell and Sasuke stood above him. "You're no Uchiha." Sasuke was about to hit him again when Zaroff's eyes turned bright red, it was the Sharingan. Sasuke froze. Zaroff kicked him on the stomach and threw him off. Sasuke stood right up and said "Who, who are you?"

"I am a friend, I can restore the Uchiha Clan, I can help you kill Itachi, I can make you the most powerful Shinobi to ever walk the land. If you would only join me, become my apprentice." Sasuke thought about it. Zaroff couldn't be trusted, but he did have the Sharingan, and said that there where others from the clan that survived. Sasuke bent down and said "I am your apprentice, sensei." "Good Sasuke." 'Good.'

Meanwhile Naruto had taken both Sakura and Hinata to the ramen shop. Naruto ordered the ramen as Sakura and Hinata sat down.

"Hey Hinata." Sakura asked. "Did Naruto invite you or vise versa?"

"Vise versa. I finally got the guts to ask him out." she said, a bit nervous.

'Oh, so… I'm really bothering here.' Sakura thought, feeling a bit sad. It wasn't Naruto's fault, he has always been clueless, but still.

"Here you go girls." Naruto said, handing the ramen bowls to each girl. "Enjoy."

Sakura stood up. "Excuse me, I'll go to the bathroom for a sec." Sakura left and signaled Hinata to talk. "Uh… I… How are you N-Naruto?" Naruto slurped his ramen and said, mouthful "Fine Hinata, you?" "F-Fine. Naruto, you say you dream of becoming hokage, any other dreams you have even more important to you?"

Naruto stayed quiet. "I have no more dreams more important than that… but, there is someone more important." Hinata froze. "Who?" Naruto smiled and said "Sakura-chan." Hinata's world crashed. Even after she finally asks Naruto out, he still cares more about Sakura.

Sakura came back from the bathroom as Naruto stood up. "I have to go now." Naruto left as Sakura sat down. "So Hinata, what you talk about?" Hinata laughed. "The most important thing in his life." "Huh?" "You."

In the meantime Kakashi had gotten half way to his destination. He was currently in a forest, with many trees. "To think, all that has happened, how they have grown. Sasuke no longer thinks less of Naruto or Sakura; Sakura doesn't have such a big crush on Sasuke and respects Naruto a bit more and Naruto, well… Naruto is still Naruto."

Suddenly three shuriken appeared and nearly hit Kakashi, but the Shinobi was well prepared and evaded them. He looked back and saw Zaroff standing behind him. "Huh?"

"Kakashi, the Copy Ninja, correct."

"And you are?"

"The names Zaroff, Zaroff Uchiha."