Hello! This is my first story fic...

Disclaimer: I do not own NARUTO the series and manTwo years after the enemy was defeated, Sasuke returns to Konoha. Now, he has to face the consequences of his mistake.

CHAPTER 1- WHY?

Five years have passed. Five years since he left the village. Years had also passed since the enemy was defeated and now he is all alone, in a cold, dark forest, searching for atonement for all the things he had done.

Everyone was at peace, but he wasn't. Thoughts of regret still lurk on his mind.

'Why?' he thought himself. 'Why did I let this happen? It was all my fault… Now, it's too late.'

Escaping the village without permission is a crime. You would be a labeled a "missing nin", and since he committed a crime, Tsunade, the Hokage decided that he has to stay in a small house in the forest for a while. It was his punishment. But now, after two years, he is free, free to return to the village.

He was saved by his friends, they told him all about Orochimaru's evil plans. At first, he didn't believe, but after much persuasion, he realized his mistake. He fought along with his friends, and now, it was all over.

As he was sitting on a branch of a tree, he recognized someone coming.

"Sasuke! Let's go back to the village! We have to help for the preparations!" a voice called.

"Coming, Naruto!" Sasuke answered.

The two of them went back to the village. It was March 28, Sakura's birthday. All of her friends were preparing for her party.

Sakura and Sai were dating for 2 years now.

During the preparations…

Everyone was preparing in the restaurant for the party. The venue was a small, but fancy restaurant. They rented the whole place for the night.

"Shikamaru! Can you hand me those balloons?" Ino commanded while she was standing on a chair putting balloons on the wall.

"Go get them yourself!" Shikamaru answered while he was sitting on a chair, just relaxing. (lazy, as always…)

"Hmp!" Ino said as she went down, snobbing Shikamaru and got the balloons.

Then, suddenly, Naruto kicked the door open.

"We're here!" Naruto exclaimed in a very exciting manner.

"Good! Now we can finish this early." Ino remarked.

"All right!" Naruto said as he performed his hand seals and said, "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu" (Shadow Cloning Technique)

All his Kage Bunshins (Shadow Clones) helped in making the necessary preparations.

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Sakura was in her room fixing herself, making her look presentable. She tied her hair in a half ponytail and placed a little flower on the knot. She wore a pink kimono with Sakura flowers printed all over it and a red ribbon.

"Sakura, are you done? The party is about to begin." Sai called from outside the door.

"Be right there." Sakura answered as she took a last glance at herself in the mirror. 'I hope I'll see you there… Sasuke-kun."

She got up, opened the door and left.

Thanks for reading! Please review! NOW!