A/N: Yoshi! Here's an update! I have to write these thoughts down asap, coz I'll probably forget these since another idea suddenly popped into my brain. It's really kawaii, it's another idea for my next fan fic. Well, minna-san, hora! It's the next chapter!
Disclaimer: The ratio of my partership with Kishimoto-sama regarding Naruto is 1:0, whereas the one is Kishimoto-sama's and the zero is mine. -slashsob-
Chapter Two: Mask
She unconsciously pinched herself to make sure this wasn't a dream. Itte! Oww… that hurt! So this IS real! Damn, I'm such a baka!
After calming herself down, she stared at the hospital bed. There lay Uchiha Sasuke, her teammate, the one who betrayed Konoha and the one who broke her fragile little heart.
It's funny, when you think about it, that Sakura, a while ago, was reminiscing about the past, but now, she is trying to predict the future. A lot of questions have been raised since the untimely arrival of Uchiha Sasuke.
What now? she asked herself. Now that he's here, what the heck am I gonna do? I mean, the sole reason I was training for, like, ever was to be strong enough to bring him back. Now he's back. What are they gonna do to him? Are they gonna punish him or something? Oh, shit…
Sakura started panicking. She didn't know what to do. For all she knew, her Sasuke-kun might be sentenced to death for treason! Hell, no! I won't let that happen! Demo, Tsunade-sama…
She glanced at the Godaime. She is way too busy healing Sasuke-kun. Ooops… Slowly, she stood up and approached her sensei. "Uhm, Tsunade-sama, do you need help?", she asked nervously.
"It's about time you asked! I've been working here for five hours and you just sat there doing nothing! Jeez, what kind of student are you?", the Godaime complained in reply.
"Uh, Tsunade-sama, we've been here for only five minutes." The whole medic team sweat dropped.
"Ahaha, is that so? Right, now don't just stand there! Help me out here!", she laughed nervously, trying to change the subject.
"Is he going to be alright?", Sakura's tone just became serious. Way too serious for Tsunade's liking.
"Of course he will be. After all, he will be placed under the care of Konoha's top medic nin!", she declared, as a menacingly creepy smile crept on her face.
"Oh, really? You're going to take care of him yourself?", Sakura asked, not even glancing up from her work.
"No, silly. Someone else will do it for me.", she replied.
"Who?", Sakura asked curiously.
"Orochimaru-sama," a silver-haired ninja began, "phase one is complete."
"Excellent," responded the snake-sannin, "If all goes well, then, we will surely be able to take over Konoha in no time!"
"If Sasuke-kun doesn't lose it", the ninja muttered faintly under his breath.
"I heard that Kabuto.", Orochimaru snapped, "Sasuke-kun will definitely not lose it." He'd better not, for his sake…
"Ja, I'll better go brief the others for the next phase.", the ninja said after fixing his glasses. He slowly turned on his heel and made his way out of the room. Daijobu, Orochimaru-sama. He'll lose it. I'll make sure he does.
As Kabuto left, Orochimaru smirked. Oh, Kabuto. You don't have to hide under that mask. He knew Kabuto all too well. He's sure that Kabuto will find a way to foil Sasuke's mission so that Sasuke will seem to be unloyal to him. Then, Sasuke will be out of Kabuto's hair forever. Orochimaru knew Kabuto never liked Sasuke. Ever. And this was Kabuto's chance to get rid of him. Just the way I've planned it. Go ahead, Kabuto. Don't fail me.
Sakura just stared at her sensei. Me? Take care of Sasuke-kun? Is she crazy? Oh, hell, of course she is. But, why do I have to do it! Not that I don't want to, it's just… too soon…
"Sakura, I know what you are so worried about. He'll be safe in your hands. After all, I'm the one who trained you.", she said with a wide smile. The medic team's sweat drops grew even bigger. "When he gets well enough, we'll talk to him. After that will be his punishment.", she continued, this time, seriously.
Sakura just nodded. She knew the consequences of Sasuke-kun's actions. Leaving Konoha without the Hokage's permission and joining the enemy won't go unpunished. And she knew Tsunade-sama won't hurt him. She is a wise Hokage. She won't resort to drastic punishment like death sentence or anything. Well, at least she hopes so.
Damn, my head hurts… That bastard Kabuto… I'll kill him when I sort things out… Wait a second… Where the hell am I?
Sasuke jumped out of the bed. Ouch… head hurts… He scanned the room. His memories started to catch on. Oh, yeah, I'm probably in Konoha's hospital. I've been here dozens of times when I was still in training. Memories of his past started to flood his mind.
"Sa… Sasuke-kun?", a familiar voice disrupted his deep thought. Turning around, he saw Konoha's number one medic nin.
"Hn.", he said in reply. Hearing this, Sakura knew he was fine. She suddenly jumped onto him, hugging him. Great! Sasuke-kun is back!
Sasuke, surprised at Sakura's sudden reaction, failed to adjust to her weight. They both fell on the floor.
"You know, you're really annoying."
Sakura just laughed at his remark and helped him up. "Gomen..", she said while softly laughing.
"So you're alright now, nee?" He nodded.
"Good! Now we can go see Tsunade-sama!", she said gleefully, grabbing Sasuke's arm and dragging him towards Tsunade's office.
All he could do was stare at her. When they were still kids, Sakura never had the strength to pull him, let alone, drag him. The old Sakura was a weak, timid little girl who kept crying whenever he called her annoying. Now this Sakura is different. She laughed when he called her annoying! That was weird… He said to himself. She changed so much… Maybe way too much…
"Nee, Sasuke-kun.", the ever-familiar voice disrupted his thoughts once again. "Just so you know, were already here. Daijobu, I already talked to Tsunade-sama. She promised she wouldn't banish you or something, she would just kill you.", she said, much to his surprise. He cocked an eyebrow at her and she burst out laughing.
"I was kidding! Gomen!", she said, as she continued laughing.
Great. She really did change way too much…
A/N: Kuso, yo! I'm seriously running low on ideas… Well, actually, I'm not… It's just that I don't know how to control the flow of the story… If I write down everything I have in mind right here, right now (Bang!), I would end up with a seriously long and incoherent chapter… I swear I'll make the next one longer! It's already in the writing process…
Please read and review! No flames please… I'm air elemental, so I will definitely spontaneously combust if I come in too much contact with flames… Ja, later!