Sakura noticed the white eyed boy chasing after them, so she quickly did kawarami ( replacement jutsu) for both her and Sasuke. Sasuke stared at what she had done for a second. She replaced themselves with a replacement technique, and she was swift enough to not let Neji notice it. Neji chased after them until he grabbed the fake Sakura's arm, and she ' poofed'. Neji was bewildered. Sasuke understood why she had done that, and they were watching Neji from the treetops. She started to jump through tree's into a thick crowd of tree's.

Sasuke stayed quiet as he followed her into the forest of.. ( dun DUN DUNNNN) death. He had been there before during chunin exams when he was younger. It wasn't the greatest place to go to. That was also the place where he had seen Itachi. Sasuke shuddered at the thought of who he thought as his nii-san.

Sakura went through the forest tops, with Sasuke behind of her.

Arrgh Why is she so stubborn!

Sakura kept on increasing her speed, making it hard for Sasuke to keep up. When they were at a small clearing with no trees, Sakura stopped. Sasuke just bumped into her, surprised that she had stopped.

Sasuke looked at Sakura's eyes, which reflected cold emerald green. He looked at what she was staring at, an his eyes widened a little. He saw a snake like man in front of them.

" Ahh… Sasuke-kun, You're now thirteen, and I would say appropriate age?" The snake like man slithered his words, making Sasuke shudder at the way 'kun' was emphasized. Sakura's eyes narrowed.

" You're Orochimaru. One of the three legendary sanin." Sakura cocked her head at him as Orochimaru let out a slithery chuckle.

" Well it's nice to know that I'm known by people," Sasuke grabbed Sakura's arm, but he felt like he couldn't move.

Wh-what is this? I can't move!

Sasuke's eyes widened in horror. (Just incase you don't know what I'm talking about, it was like when Oro paralyzed them … I think, and they couldn't escape.) Sasuke felt numb, and his arm let go of Sakura, who fell to her knees. He looked at her painfully and saw her squeezing her eyes tightly at the pain, cringing. Sasuke felt pain throb through him, and he painfully looked up at the man named Orochimaru.

" Painful?" He just slithered out while chuckling.

Hm… I was after Saske-kun, but this girl might be useful later on. Orochiamru smirked at his thought.

Should I?

Sasuke looked at Sakura who was obviously in pain, and he knew they HAD to get away, or they might die. He thought of how to get out of the paralysis. He managed to get his hand down to his kunai pouch, and he picked it slowly, in pain. Orochimaru noticed it, and awaited what Sasuke might do. Sasuke instantly stabbed the kunai in his knee, and he carried Sakura bridal style out of the scene. Sakura shaking, and Sasuke noticed only holding her tighter. Sasuke felt shakes of her trembles, and looked down to her face. She was in pain.

There were many tall canopies of trees, and he laid Sakura down on the huge branch. She started to wake up from the horror, and she meekly stood up. Sasuke looked all around for Orochimaru, who as no where in sight. Sasuke looked back to Sakura who was staring at him. They both stood quiet, but it didn't last long.

Orochimaru slithered up the he tree they were on with a snake like body. Sasuke was literally freaking out. He had never been like that, and he had never seen so disturbing images while being paralyzed. ( lolls such a treat ne? ) Sakura stood up, and grabbed Sasuke by the wrist, and sped off to more safety.

" Playing now eh?" He slithered his words as he watched the retreating forms. " Interesting really…. A smart prey, stabbing himself on the knee to get away. His tongue flickered in and out in a disgusting way. "Interesting preys indeed. Both worthy of.. ( dun DUN DUNNN!)…." A smirk tugged at his lips, and it was quite disturbing.

Meanwhile:

" –Pant-.." Sasuke and Sakura were exhausted, and weren't in the mood to fight. Sakura was closing her eyes fiercely trying erase memories of what just happened.

Sasuke looked like a dog with rabies bit him. He was trembling fiercely.

" Saku-"

Sasuke heard a loud shriek as he saw Orochimaru so close to her neck, and it looked like.. ..he was biting her! Sasuke's eyes widened as he saw Sakura throb in pain. Her eyes were large and twitching slightly. Sakura just stared at Sasuke.

"RUN!" she yelled at Sasuke so loud enough to be heard a mile away. " SASUKE JUST GET AWAY FROM HERE!"Sakura yell became a shriek, as she held back a tear coming from shaking eyes. Sasuke had never seen her cry or yell so loud, and at the sound of her voice her started to leap away from the scene. He felt a tugging feeling pulling him to go back and get her. He turned back, and retrieved her, kneeling on one knee, and holding her bridal style.

He looked all around his surroundings to find the crazy man- or whatever he was. He looked all around, when he felt pain on his neck. There were to sharp claw like teeth seeping into his skin. " AGGHHH" Sasuke yelled in pain. Orochimaru looked down at the two. He was satisfied, and he walked away, knowing what would happen later on.

Later on:

Sasuke started to wake up, feeling so drowsy as if he had been on sedatives. He felt something soft on his cheecks, as he looked down. He was on top of Sakura, and her check was pressed down on his. He carefully laid her down on the huge branch, and something on her neck caught his eye. He saw markings like the Sharingan wheels on her neck, and remembered the events of before. He looked back on his back, and saw it on himself also.

The mark started to cause pain as Sakura woke up screaming in pain also because of the mark. Sasuke's hand was on top of the throbbing mark, as his elbows touched the wood with his other hand keeping him balanced. Sakura cringed in pan as she looked over to Sasuke. " A-are you..allright?" She weakly asked the boy who she actually showed worry for.

Sasuke just stayed still, often shaking in pain. She got up, and walked over to him. The curse mark started up again. " AGGH!" Sakura yelled before she fell onto her knees with a thud. She crouched over Sasuke while he was still in the position with his elbow on the ground. She started to try and get up, but she felt someone pick her up. She was on Sasuke's back before she knew it, and his pace was slow, with limping every step.

" I can walk, I'll manage." Sakura tried to get herself pried off of his back, but he just held her tighter. She struggled a while, but she was too exhausted to protest anymore. Her soft chin rested on shoulder, and he let it rest there. Honestly, he felt comfortable with her leaning on him. He had never been so close to a girl, and he actually felt comfortable with her. She started to slowly drift off to sleep, and he heard her soft even breathing against him. He soon saw the Konoha gates.

" We're…here…." Sasuke fell to the ground as he fainted right near the gate. Sakura toppled over him, but she didn't wake up.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Sasuke opened his tired eyes, to only find that he was in a white room, and he noticed the blonde haired boy sleeping on the couch near the bed. Naruto woke up at the sound of Sasuke stirring in his bed.

" Sasuke-teme!" Naruto yelled out only getting a cold response.

" Do you have to be this loud in the mornings, dobe?" Sasuke winced as the loud voice rang through his head. Naruto simply grinned with his mouth reaching his ears. Sasuke stared at the sleepy Naruto, and Naruto looked back at him sleepily.

" So what happened teme? I mean, you and Sakura-chan were found near the gates, both collapsed on top of eachother.

Naruto sounded worried, and Sasuke thought about his answer before he said something.

" We were attacked." He simply put all the recaps he got in his mind to three simple words.

Naruto and Sasuke sat quietly for a while.

" Hey Sasuke-teme wanna go see Sakura? She woke up yesterday."

" Hn…How long was I out."

" About three days, we were all soooooo worried about you!"

Sasuke actually didn't want to see her. He felt things he never felt since his clan was murdered, and it wasn't a very welcoming feeling.

" I'll… go see her later… so get out dobe." Naruto rolled his eyes as he walked out of his room, leaving Sasuke, his friend, to go deep into his thoughts.