Okay, just a bit of warning. Sasuke's a tad OOC in this chapter, but it's because he's finally letting out the sadness and anger that'd been bottling up inside for who knows how many years. So there.


Naruto groaned as he sat up again. Hinata was beside him on the ground, gasping for breath. Sakura was panting as she dragged herself to a kneeling position, and Sasuke was wheezing as he leaned against a tree. Haku was sitting against another tree, fanning himself.

"C'mon guys! What's wrong, you can't be tired already! We've just gotten started!!" Yume said as he hopped up and down on one foot.

"Give them a break, dobe. They don't have your freakish stamina." Hiashi saw trying not to laugh, watching his friend train the children into the ground.

"Yeah they do, they just can't access it yet!! Besides, a few measly laps around the house are just a warm-up!" Yume retaliated, smirking as he watched his son fight his way to his feet yet again. A vein appeared on Sakura's forehead.

"A FEW MEASLY LAPS!?! YOU MADE US RUN TEN FREAKING LAPS AROUND YOUR ENORMOUS HOUSE, AND YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE OUT OF BREATH!?!" Yume smirked.

"Well, you seem to have enough breath for that." She blushed and looked away, muttering something under her breath.

"Let's do this... otousan..." Naruto panted, fighting for the strength to stay conscious.

"Let's give them a break, sensei. They're all ready to pass out." Kakashi called lazily as he turned the page in his newly autographed copy of Icha Icha Paradise. Yume's eyebrow twitched.

"Fair enough, Kakashi. Why don't we spar?" All traces of laziness vanished from the copy ninja's face.

"Spar? With you? Sure!" Kakashi was almost vibrating with excitement. He was actually going to be able to fight with his teacher again, after so long... He slipped his book into his pouch, stood, and walked over to his teacher. The genin dragged themselves over to the trees lining the training field.

"Go ahead, Kakashi. Don't hold back on my account." Yume teased him as he cracked his knuckles.

"Same with you, sensei. I'm not the one who's been out of action for almost twelve years." Kakashi flipped his forehead protector up, revealing his Sharingan eye.

"That won't work, you know." Kakashi just shrugged.

"Habit." With that, both of the ninjas vanished.

"Where'd they go!?" Naruto exclaimed. His eyes were trying to keep up with the blurs that were moving around the clearing. Sasuke has his Sharingan activated, and was following the fight in disbelief. He could see one blur, but...

'Where the hell is Yume-san!?'

("Don't you get it? That's what his kekkei genkai does. You might as well try and see the wind.") Kageryu sighed in frustration.

"Tired yet?" Kakashi asked as he leapt at his teacher again.

"You wish, Kakashi-kun!" Yume retaliated as he back flipped away, landing neatly on the ground. Kakashi stopped also, and grasped his right wrist firmly with his left hand.

"Hey Yume-sensei. Remember how you challenged me to make a technique similar to Rasengan? Here's your answer! CHIDORI!!" The sound of chirping birds filled the air, and lightning-like blue chakra covered Kakashi's hand. Yume smiled.

"Nice. Too bad I can't let you finish it." Yume shot forward in a golden blur.

"Konoha Senpuu!!" He cried as he planted a crushing kick to Kakashi's chest. Kakashi's Chidori didn't dissipate, even when the kick sent him flying through several trees and into a wall with a resounding crunch. The kids were in shock.

'How... How can he move like that...?' Haku stared at the golden-haired warrior.

'Amazing... Such speed and power...' Sasuke's eyes were open wide. Sakura and Naruto's jaws were on the ground, and Hinata's eyes were bugging out of her head. Kakashi stood once again, and charged at his teacher in a green and black blur. Hiashi stood, and walked forward until he was between the charging men.

"Hakkeshou: Kaiten!!" He spun like a top and a dome of whirling chakra formed, sending the other two flying.

"DAMMIT!! HIASHI-TEME!!!" Yume plowed clean through a wall. Kakashi grunted and shoved his Chidori into the ground, making him stop quite handily. Hiashi stood smirking in the middle of a slightly smoking crater almost fifteen feet in diameter. Yume stood up and dusted himself off, as though he had only stumbled and tripped, not been sent through a wall.

"You could warn me before you do that!!" Yume roared at the Hyuuga.

"Where's the fun in that?" Hiashi stepped out of the crater and walked over to the others.

"Everyone, lunchtime!" Natsumi's voice came over the loudspeaker. "I made my special ramen for- YEEK!!! DON'T DO THAT YUME-KUN!!!" Before the word "ramen" was even finished, Yume had vanished, and apparently reappeared in the kitchen right next to her. Naruto shot off, all traces of tiredness gone from his features. The others contented themselves with a slightly more relaxed pace, but still rather fast. Yume was already seated at the table when they arrived, nursing a large bump on his head. Natsumi was chuckling slightly as she put her trusty frying pan away. Hiashi just snickered.

"Got you again, huh?"

"Urusei." They all sat down.

"Itadakimasu!" Naruto and Yume dug in rapidly, Haku not far behind. Sakura took a bite and immediately shoveled more into her mouth.

"So good!!"

"Why thank you, Sakura-chan." Natsumi laughed.

"I've had lots of practice, with Yume's appetite-"

"Seconds please!" Yume held up his bowl. She just laughed and refilled it, shaking her head.

"See what I mean?" Sasuke took a small bite, and regretted it instantly. It tasted...

Too much like...

Hers. So full of love...

Not too strong...

Not too bland...

His eyes were stinging with tears, even though he bade them not to come.

"Sasuke-kun? What's wrong?" Sakura asked once she had noticed his tears.

"I didn't forget to spice the egg rolls, did I?" Natsumi asked worriedly.

"I-Iie. I'm fine-" He cursed his luck. His voice did just have to crack right then. He prayed they wouldn't take note. He stood up from the table and excused himself, walking hastily out of the room. Natsumi started to get up, but Yume placed a hand on her shoulder. As if an unseen communication had occurred, she smiled and asked if anyone wanted seconds.

"H-Hai, Kazara-san." Hinata said politely.

"Please, call me Natsumi, Hinata-chan." The younger girl nodded shyly as she took her food.


Thirty bowls of ramen later (for Yume anyway), they all stood up.

"Okay kids. Let's go start the next stage of your training. We're moving to water walking, since all of you can climb trees now."

"Yosh!" Naruto cheered.

"What about Sasuke-kun?" Sakura asked, her emerald eyes filled with concern. Yume put a hand on her shoulder and steered her from the room.

"He'll catch up. He just needs to be alone for a while..." Yume shook his head to remove the lingering sadness.

((Daijoubu, koi?)) Natsumi asked through their mental link. (1)

((Yeah, I'm fine. I think you should talk to Sasuke.))

((Why me?))

((He doesn't need me right now. What he needs now, is a mother who cares about him.))

((I'll do my best.))

((I know you will. Ja.)) Yume withdrew his mind from the conversation as he kissed her on the top of her head. He steered the children from the room, followed by Kakashi and Hiashi. After clearing the table, she walked out into the dojo. She could hear his frustrated punches and kicks all the way from the house. Sticking her head in the room, she saw that he'd been repeatedly punching one of the dummies hanging from the ceiling.

"Daijobou, Sasuke-kun?" He practically jumped out of his skin. After whirling to face her, he averted his eyes again.

"H-Hai." She walked up to him and placed both her hands on his shoulders.

"I don't think you are." He mumbled something.

"What was that, Sasuke-kun?"

"I said I don't need your pity!" She knelt in front of the boy. She forced him to look into her eyes, biting back the tears when she saw the raw amount of turmoil and pain inside his onyx orbs.

"Look in my eyes, Sasuke. No, look at them." She forced his head around to look at her face again.

"Do you see any pity, Sasuke? This isn't pity, Sasuke. This is sorrow. Sorrow over what you've become. Sorrow that no one was there to help you." Sasuke's eyes were brimming with tears, no matter how hard he fought to keep them away. Natsumi wrapped her arms around him in a motherly embrace. The lump in Sasuke's throat only let a strangled cry escape as he collapsed into the embrace. How long had it been...? Since someone had cared about him disregarding the fact that he was the Uchiha heir? He couldn't remember.

"Well, one thing's for sure. You're not living alone in that house another day, Sasuke." His eyes flew open.

"Nani!?"

"Uchiha Sasuke. You listen to me now. You're moving in with us here, and that's final. No buts!" Her voice had a slightly commanding edge to it. Sasuke nodded even as the strange lump in his throat grew. He cursed himself under his breath.

"What's wrong now, Sasuke-kun?"

"I... I made myself promise... never to cry again... So why am I crying now...? Crying is for weaklings... That's what Itachi told me..."

"You're both wrong." Sasuke looked up at Natsumi, clearly startled and confused.

"Why?"

"The much stronger man is he who shows his emotions openly, not one who hides everything inside. Besides, you can't keep all of your pain inside, you'd burst!" She giggled as she ruffled his hair. Sasuke's mind was spinning. One of the core pillars of his world had just been brought down in seconds, just with one sentence! All he could do was gape openly at this woman who had rewritten one of his sacred laws. And yet... he was strangely thankful. He didn't know why, but... the thought of waking up in the morning... surrounded by people who actually care about him... a large and genuine smile found its way to his usually dour face.

"Arigato." he murmured as he dried his tears.

"Oh, it was nothing Sasuke-kun. You'd better hurry, I think the others have already started to train." He nodded, and ran off.

((Koi?)) She called through her mental link with her soul mate.

((Nani?))

((He agreed to move in with us tonight.))

((I knew you could do it honey.))

((I'm flattered.))

((Gotta go, or Naruto's going to drown. He can't stay on top of the water!)) he laughed as he closed the conversation. She giggled.

'Just like his father... She walked back into the house. After all, there was still housework to be done.

"Ackpth!!" Naruto's head broke the surface after going underwater for the thirteenth time that afternoon.

("Fourteenth. And I do hope you at least know how to swim. Maybe you should have held Same since you seem to like spending so much time underwater.")

Can it you- Naruto's mental tirade was interrupted as Hiashi hauled him out of the water again.

"I swear boy, you're just like your father was."

"I heard that, teme."

"You were supposed to."

"Oh, Sasuke. Glad you could make it." Yume said as he faced the boy who had just walked into the clearing that held the lake his friends were on. Well, most of his friends.

"Why's dobe so wet?" Said boy's eyes snapped over to the new arrival.

"SASUKE-TEMEE!!! I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO!!!" Sakura just laughed as she performed cartwheels on the top of the lake, completely dry. Sasuke smirked. She was definitely perfect for him-

Oh hell, not again Kageryu snickered.

("Yes again, hatchling. Get used to it.") Sasuke sent a strong image of a dragon-skin wallet into his mind. Kageryu growled and sent an image of Sasuke roasting on a spit. He stumbled as he walked forward.

("I'm STILL a demon, you know. I just happen to be stuck inside your body. That does NOT make me like you.")

Feeling's mutual, ryu. Sasuke walked forwards until he was at the edge of the lake. Hinata was knee-deep in four feet of water. It seemed that she had the basic hang of it, but she was just doubting herself again. Haku was balanced almost perfectly on top of the water, just sitting there and meditating. Naruto's face was a mask of concentration, as he managed to stand on the surface.

"Look tousan!! I did it- BLARG!!!" Sasuke shook his head. He'd lost his concentration and fallen right through the surface once more. Yume shook his head.

"This... is going to take a while..."


Sasuke couldn't place the feelings that were flying around inside of him. On the one hand, he was scandalized. He was abandoning the Uchiha manor, the place of his ancestors. On the other, he was happier than he'd ever been in his whole life. He was finally leaving that empty shell of a home.

"It's been a while since I've been inside the Uchiha complex." Hiashi commented as he followed the boy. Natsumi was coming along as well, as were Sakura and Kakashi. Sasuke was finding it hard to just walk, let alone lead others. They'd been training mercilessly the whole day, only resting when they couldn't move or for meals. Sasuke opened the door to his room, and stepped inside. He gathered up his possessions, the ones he wanted to take anyway. Sakura shuddered.

How could he live in a place like this... It feels like the happiness is being sucked out of me...

("Yeah, there are definitely some lingering emotions in this house. Good thing he's moving out. He might actually be driven insane if he lived in here for too long.")

'He could have moved in to my house, you know!!' Hane chuckled.

("As much as I would love having a treat that close...") Sakura's face matched the coloration of her dress.

'THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT!!!'

("I meant it.") Sakura shoved the demoness from her mind and shuddered again.

"Daijoubu?" Sasuke asked, laying a hand on her shoulder.

"Un. Demon problems..." She flushed slightly again, as did he.

"Know what you mean." He shifted the bag over a shoulder. Natsumi shook her head sadly.

'It's that bad?' Yume asked her.

((The very air seems like it wants to strangle you... There's no hope in this place.))

((That's exactly why he's moving in with us. I don't want him turning out like Orochimaru-san.))

((We'll be back in a minute koi. Is his room ready?))

((Yeah. I just went with the navy stuff.))

((Perfect. See you soon.))

"Ano, Natsumi-nee?" Sakura asked from beside her.

"Nani?"

"What were you doing just now? Your eyes were out of focus." Natsumi smiled.

"Talking with Yume-kun."

"You can do that!?!" Sakura's eyes were almost popping out of her head.

"It's something I'll explain later. For now, you'd better get home, young lady." Hiashi laid a hand on her shoulder.

"Natsumi-chan's right, little one. I'll escort you home."

"Un." Sakura nodded. She stopped, turned around, and hugged Sasuke. The boy immediately stiffened, but wrapped her arms around her.

"Gomen... I should have asked..." she apologized when they pulled apart.

"Iie... I don't mind... just warn me next time..." Sasuke smiled at her. Not his usual smirk. An actual smile, filled with more happiness and emotion than she'd ever seen him display. Her heart melted into a puddle at the bottom of her chest cavity.

'Oh my god!! HE'S SO HOT!!!' Sakura flushed heavily, and stuttered a 'goodbye.' Hiashi put a hand on her shoulder again and steered the stunned girl from the room. Sasuke raised an eyebrow.

"Is she alright?" Natsumi laughed, her laughter sounding alien in the forlorn gloom of the deserted manor.

"She's just shell shocked. You'll get it later, Sasuke-kun." She patted him on top of the head. He grumbled something, and they left, Kakashi carrying the rest of Sasuke's belongings.


"Arigato, Hiashi-san. For walking me home, I mean."

"Don't mention it, Sakura. It's what I'd want someone to do for Hinata, so I don't mind." Sakura smiled up at him, and he smiled back.

"Ano, Hiashi-san?"

"Nani?"

"Do... I mean... Ano..."

"Out with it, child, I don't bite." Sakura's emerald eyes clouded over slightly.

"My parents know about Hane, right?" Hiashi closed his eyes.

"Iie. They don't. It was your grandparents who nominated you to be a container. Your father had his hands full with a mission, and your mother was unconscious in the hospital. She never even knew you left the maternity ward."

"Oh... Do you think... they'd hate me if they found out...?"

"I can't imagine that they would." Hiashi was praying that his statement was true. Sakura looked up at him, eyes full of a panicked need for reassurance. He put a hand on her head and rubbed it affectionately. Her smile returned.

"Oh no, I forgot! Mizuki-sensei was coming over for dinner! Bye Hiashi-san, I have to run!!" She waved as she sprinted. Hiashi raised his hand, and waited until she had gone around the corner before following at a high rate of speed.

Sakura opened the door to her house to find it dark inside.

'It's only seven... They should be having dinner...'

"Hello? Is anyone home?" She asked nervously. Her eyes widened in shock when a kunai buried itself in her shoulder. She cried out as she slid to the floor.

"Ah, so the demon comes home." Mizuki drawled as he undid his genjutsu, appearing in the middle of the room.

"Sakura!!" Her mother shouted, bound and hanging from the ceiling.

"Mi-Mizuki-sensei? What's going on?" Sakura asked as she placed one hand on the kunai.

"Revenge, that's what. You filthy demons killed my parents!!"

"Sakura was just born you lunatic!! What does she have to do with those demons!? You haven't answered me yet!!" Sakura's mother demanded from the ceiling.

"Ah, you wouldn't know, Haruno-san. Your husband's father gave Sakura..."

"Yamero!!" Sakura screamed. Her only response was another Kunai embedded in her other shoulder. She screamed again., collapsing over, her breathing ragged.

"Silence, demon!! As I was saying, her grandfather gave her to the Yondaime Hokage, to be used as a sacrifice. That child..."

"Please... YAMERO ONEGAI!!!" Sakura called out from the floor.

"She is the human form of the hawk demoness, Hane!! It was her and her friends that killed my parents, as well as yours!!" Mizuki screamed at Sakura's mother.

"No... You're lying!!" Sakura's mother almost whispered. Mizuki yanked Sakura's head back so she was laying on her back under her mother. He ripped the bottom of her shirt up, revealing the seal that stood out, black against her creamy skin. Tears were overflowing from Sakura's eyes. Now her mother, her own mother would hate her.

"Mizuki-sensei, you are correct. I despise Hane with all of my heart." Sakura gave a great sob, and curled up.

"Ah, so we agree-"

"But not Sakura. Not my daughter, Sakura-chan. I could never hate you, musume." She smiled as she looked at her daughter.

"Okaa-chan..." Sakura whimpered.

"Fine, then both of you can die!!" Mizuki grabbed one of the huge shuriken on his back and spun in it his hand.

Some shinobi I am...No... I can't die here... NO!!! NOOOOOO!!! Sakura could only watch in horror as Mizuki threw the giant star at her

"Demons first!!" he cackled. The front door burst open.

"Hakkeshou: Kaiten!!" Hiashi yelled as he leapt in front of Sakura. His body spun, but he controlled his energy so the sphere around his body was small. The shuriken froze in the air when it hit the dome, then fell to the ground once he stopped spinning.

"Hyuuga Hiashi-sama!?" Sakura's mother said in disbelief.

"Just watching after one of my students, Haruno-san." Hiashi nodded to her.

"I'll have you down in a minute, ma'am."

"I should have known that you'd be on their side. After all, your precious daughter is Same!!" Hiashi activated his Byakugan, and glared a hole right through the chuunin.

"Yes, Hinata has Same sealed inside of her, but that does not make her a demon. Now, for insulting the heir of the clan, you must pay the price. Hakkeshou: Rokujuu Yonshou!!"

"One hand!"

"Two hands!"

"Four hands!"

"Eight hands!"

"Sixteen hands!"

"Thirty-two hands!"

"Sixty-four hands!" Mizuki crumpled like a soggy paper bag, and Hiashi made sure to trod on his manhood en route to freeing Sakura's mother. He let her down gently, and cut the ropes that bound her. She ran over to Sakura immediately.

"Sakura-chan! Daijoubu!?" Sakura nodded as she carefully removed the kunai with a small yelp. Hiashi walked over to her.

"I'm not the best medic, but I can help heal the damage. You should be fine, he missed the tendons. Chiyute no Jutsu." (2) His hands were bathed in a green light, and the damage on her shoulders were lessened.

"Arigato, Hiashi-san."

"Don't mention it. Hane should be able to take it from there." Sakura whirled to face her mother.

"Okaa-chan..."

"Ssh... I meant what I said, Sakura. You're my little flower blossom, no matter what." Sakura hugged her mother tightly.

"Excuse me, Hyuuga-sama? Did you say Sakura was one of your students?"

"Yes, one of my best ones. I train her with the other children that bear the demons."

"You won't make me stop, will you okaa-chan?"

"Why would I do that? I'm happy that you have some friends." That statement triggered Sakura's memory.

"Okaa-chan, guess what!? Sasuke-kun asked me to be his girlfriend!!! AND WE HUGGED!!!"

"That's wonderful, honey!! Now, why don't we get some take-out? I don't think I feel like cooking right now."

"You wanna join us, Hiashi-san?" Sakura asked.

"Iie. Gomen, but I must take the trash out, so to speak." He heaved Mizuki's twitching body over a shoulder and walked out of the house.

"See you tomorrow, Sakura."

"Oyasumi!" (3) Sakura called after him.

"I think you should tell me all of what's been going on with your training, Sakura-chan." Her mother chided her as she locked the door.

"Un. Let's discuss it over some gyuudon!" Haruno-san laughed and walked down the street with her daughter.


Oy! There, another one down.

Night-Owl123, Firedude328, TopQuark, All anonymous reviewers – Thanks!

Dragon Man 180 – Sasuke's contracts will be explained later. Manda isn't in charge of Snake Branch, just so you know. Yes, that possibility has occurred to me as well... heheheheheheheheh...

Metanaito-san – Yeah, indeed ;

Place-your-name-here – Um, yeah...

sephynarutocloud – Um, thanks, I think...

Inferno-Dragonz – I will say it here, since I didn't state it above. Naruto has contracts with the Toad clan as well as the Fox clan (who couldn't see that one coming?)

Magicians of the Yami – I will, don't worry.

zornoid13 – Sorry it took so long

Gopu-san – Once again, thank you for your support.

Skuld's Sentaro – Yes, Yume has a ton of summoning contracts. Isn't it grand!?

Lady-Frisselle – Yes, the "demon make out scene" seems to be one of my most popular ones, besides the "OOC Hinata" scene.

nonengel – Yeah, I was reaching on some of 'em.

GreatMarta-sama – A wedgie is when you grab the back of someone's underwear and yank up sharply. (evil laughter) Yes, Hyuuga Shizuka, Hinata's mother, died giving birth to Hanabi. I do imagine that that would be a bit, erm, unexpected at their age... Thanks, I really had to think for the contracts.

X-Mirai-X-san – Yeah, I owe you for the suggestion. I wouldn't say that the two of them have been scarred. Given some ideas, maybe, but not scarred! ;; Anyway, I think the idea of cute, shy little Hinata having a temptress for a demon is freaking hilarious myself.


AUTHOR NOTES:

(1) Yume and Natsumi are soulmates, which gives them a mental link at all times. The reason her part of the link was hidden is because of the ward that the third put on the house, but was broken when Yume entered it.

(2) Chiyute no Jutsu: Healing Hands Technique – A Ninjutsu technique where the ninja focuses chakra into the palms of their hands, creating a small ball of healing chakra. This chakra, when concentrated, can repair physical damage to another person. Depending on the degree of the wound, the ninja must concentrate more of their chakra to repair the damage. However, if the wound is too extensive, such as extensive damage to vital organs, this technique may not be able to help them. Phew, that was a mouthful...

(3) Oyasumi – It just means "goodnight."


Okay, there you go, people. I have a third story, for anyone who's interested. Ja.