AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey everyone, thank you so much for your interest in this story! I was overwhelmed by the blast of reviews I received not long after posting Chap 3.

I noticed a lot of you are saying "Sasuke is ooc". In my eyes SasuSaku couldn't occur successfully unless Sasuke shows a softer side and at times expressed himself to those he cared for.

SNOW GLARE

CHAPTER 4

Sakura cried silently as she watched him walk away; her chest heaving as she tried to calm herself down. Why is my heart beating so fast…Damn that Uchiha, she thought silently as she pressed her fingers against her wet lips.

Taking a deep breath Sakura slowly calmed herself. Why…Why did he feel it was necessary to say all of that, he's never spoken to me for that long in my entire life… she thought to herself as she slowly rose to her feet, rubbing her left temple, I don't get it. How could he have cared for me? His actions, his words and the fact that he left me behind proves otherwise. Sighing she pressed her left hand to her thumping chest, the only thing I can gather from that conversation is that he is trying to manipulate me by stirring old feelings, he may have said he loved me previously but I know it's a lie. Her fierce emerald orbs narrowed with disgust, He hasn't changed at all.

A freezing breeze swept up from the forest below as small particles of grass whipped around her determined form, after that complete and utter lie why should I help him? Maybe I should try to escape, she thought to herself as she eyed off the cliff edge just above the cave she smiled, "that's where they disappeared to last night," she noted, I'm sure I could escape up there too. But should I? He might be playing me but he's hurt, her eyes softened as she looked back over her right shoulder, I can't tell what the right thing to do is.

"Oi hag!" Karin yelled out as she emerged on top of the cliff face.

Wincing Sakura shook with rage, clencing her fist as she tried to ignore her inner self screaming, "Kill her!"

Jumping down to the level Sakura was on Karin watched her anxiously, "I don't like that you're here," she stated bluntly, "But, Sasuke does need your help so I'll endure your presence…" she added impatiently. "However! That does NOT mean that I will tolerate you trying to get him to fuck you!" she howled, as she pointed her finger at her rival, her hair wisping through the air as a gust of wind swept past her.

Eyes widening for a moment in surprise Sakura watched the crimson haired woman carefully, she must've been watching. Slowly walking past her she forced a smile as she whispered, "You can have him," gliding past her she held her head high as she smiled knowing her heart was assuredly enshrined.

Blinking in confusion Karin turned slightly as her eyes clashed with Sakura's, her blunt words echoing through her head. How can she say that after Sasuke spoke to her the way he did? Stamping her feet Karin glared at Sakura's back, "I won't loose to you!" she screamed as she pressed her eyes shut. After all I took his virginity…

Sakura's ivory skin prickled nervously as goosebumps formed across the surface of her skin as the other woman's words reached her ears. I wasn't lying, she noted silently as she re-entered the cave. The darkness and damp air consuming her as she looked around anxiously for the books Sasuke spoke of.

….

Heart racing as he stood outside her empty house once more Naruto sighed, at the end of the day what do you go home to Sakura? You are just like me…alone. He noted sadly as he ran his tongue over his dry lips as clouds from above partially obscured the sun's light from illuminating the area in which he was standing.

Your parents died of typhoid while travelling through the outskirts of the lightning country…you couldn't do anything to stop it from happening. I remember your expression, your pain, your tears…wincing in pain he turned his head slightly, I couldn't do anything, you just wanted him, Sasuke…But you had already lost him too, you couldn't stop that either. Taking a deep breath Naruto sighed as he looked up at the sun, slowly pushing away the offending clouds to make way for its life giving light as the gentle chirping of birds rang through the air, That's when you gave up isn't it?

"Naruto," Tsunade called out as she emerged from Sakura's house, clutching the note that Naruto had found. "There are no leads, nothing but this note," she replied furiously as her knuckles cracked, "He took her casual outfit and medical kit as well, leaving behind all her weapons, she's defenceless and off the radar…This is now an ANBU operation I wi-"

"I want to be on the team that goes!" Naruto cut in, his eyes focused and determined as he felt his heart beat in the back of his throat.

Looking at him sympathetically Tsunade shook her head, "You can't."

Her words echoed through his mind as his eyes narrowed, I can't?

"You can't because the Akatsuki are still after the Kyuubi, I have let you go on previous missions with Sakura because I know she can control you when you start to transform and if something goes wrong she's there to heal you immediately," she stated matter-of-factly as she smiled sadly, "But she's missing so I can't let you leave this village Naruto. I will place 3 ANBU at your side through out the day and night until we retrieve her. Until then the only thing you can do to help is to not interfere." Watching him carefully for a moment she sighed, "I'm sorry," raising her right hand 3 ANBU appeared by her side, "It just has to be like this."

Gritting his teeth Naruto glared at her. "You're wasting 3 ANBU that could be helping look for Sakura by assigning them to me? Are you serious!" he snapped rudely as his temper flared up, "I don't care what happens to me. Sakura is more important!" he snapped as his eyes went glassy, "I need to protect her!"

"Stop it!" Tsunade snapped back, "Sakura is much more adept than you might believe Naruto. She doesn't need to be protected just because she is a woman or because you love her. She just needs to be located and informed that we are aware of her location, if she wants to escape she will," she noted as she walked off, Tonton in tow.

Standing silently Naruto clenched his fist as he watched the 3 masked ANBU before him.

"Naruto?" Ino called out confusedly as she approached him, "Where is Sakura?"

His ice blue eyes met her own as he frowned, vexed by his devotion. "She's with him."

Ino's eyes shook in disbelief. "What?" she whispered as she felt her heart sink, "but why would she do that?" she added, a baneful tone present in her voice as she raised her hand to shield her eyes from the sun's intense glare.

"The only scenario that makes any kind of sense to me is that he made her an offer she couldn't refuse," Naruto whispered huskily, holding back his urge to scream at the top of his lungs. Shifting his feet uncomfortably he formed dust clouds at his feet, "I can't even get her," he added as he looked up at her, torn.

Pressing her eyes shut Ino sighed, what did he say to you Sakura?

Flicking furiously through the stale books Sakura sighed, wiping the perspiration dripping down her forehead with the back of her left hand, I'm getting a fever, my body heat has rose significantly since this morning. This cave is far to cold, it's not good for any human, she snickered for a moment, well maybe good enough for that loose Karin girl…Who is she anyway, she never does anything when I see Sasuke's team fight. Prehaps she's just his sex toy?

Sasuke sat silently at the entrance to the cave, watching Sakura intently. Why the hell did I say all that crap! He scolded himself silently, it's weak to show so much emotion, she'll think this is come kind of lovefest now, he thought with a groan. A hot sensation churned through him as he reflected on her expression from earlier, I didn't need to tell her what I saw…I guess that was a bit too much also.

Looking up at Sakura met his intense gaze, shifting uncomfortably she picked up the book she was studying and turned away from him to face the wall. Why is he staring, perhaps he feels bad…she thought for a moment before snickering quietly to herself. "As if!" her inner self replied silently.

"Hn," Sasuke grumbled as he looked away embarrassed at her noticing that his gaze rested upon her. Is she really going to be able to help me? Is she just doing it now out of a fantasy that if she heals me I will let her stay? "pft" he snickered as he flicked his hair out of his eyes and rose to his feet.

"Sasuke."

Turning to look at her once more he waited expectantly as she looked over her shoulder at him.

"To further understand the severity of your condition I need to analyse and make notes via inspection," she replied slowly as her chest heaved tiredly.

She seems fatigued… he noted as he walked over to her, crouching down at her eye level.

"Ok now I need you to follow this pencil with your eyes ok?" she whispered as she picked up a small pencil moving it slowly from left to right, up and then down before repeating the process and finishing with a concerned sigh.

"What?" he replied, clearly annoyed as his eyes twitched.

Placing the pencil down Sakura remained silent. "I need to look around your eyelids, this might be a little uncomfortable," she whispered noting the dried blood in the corner of each eye as she reached forward.

"No," he snapped as he caught her hands as they approached his face, "tell me first!" he snapped as wind whistled through the cave.

Startled Sakura pulled her hand away as she watched him.

Don't touch her...idiot, he noted as he sighed.

He seems really anxious, could it be that he's actually scared? She pondered for a moment. "It's just that they seem to be having difficulties focusing on a moving object," she noted as she scratched the side of her face. "I think the sensors behind your eyes are slightly damaged but I should be able to improve that as it's not as bad as it could be, however it is risky for you to get into a fight in this condition whether it is day or night," she added as she yawned. "Now I will continue, ok?" she snapped tiredly.

Nodding Sasuke attempted relax as she poked and prodded around his eyes. She's tiring herself. She needs to bathe too she is staring to smell potent, he noted as he winced in pain from her prodding. At least she believes she can fix what she has discovered so far…perhaps she isn't as pathetic as I first thought…

"Sasuke," she whispered as she pulled away from his eyes, placing the cloth she was using to touch his eyes with in her medical kit. "Why did you lie earlier?" she asked bluntly as she turned back to watch him.

His stoic features remained blank. "You're a hassle, you annoy me…that's why" he stated as he watched her expressionlessly. Somehow you make me want to discuss everything, why?

"Why do you always put up this barrier!" Sakura snapped as she glared at him, "I know you lied when you talked to me earlier I can't fathom why. Perhaps part of it was a lie and part of it was true. Either way I deserve to know after the way you spoke to me!" Slamming the massive medical book shut she watched him expectantly, "You were speaking confidently to me earlier and now you can't explain it at all?"

"You're not worth my breath," Sasuke replied as he rose to his feet, walking towards the exit of the cave as the night air smashed against his body.

Grumbling Sakura jumped to her feet in hot pursuit. Upon reaching the exit of the cave he scent of wet of fresh snow reached her instantly through the freezing night air, "I'm leaving then! I have done nothing to deserve the treatment I have received in the last 24 hours!" she snapped.

Sasuke spun around grabbing her by the neck and pressing her against the opening wall of the cave. Watching her for long moments he felt something hot run down his face, a sensation he was unfamiliar with but one that intensified with each gust of cold air that hit his body. You can't go…I don't want to be alone, I don't want to die…You can't go back to him.

Reaching forward Sakura touched his cheek as blood filled tears rolled down his sleek skin. Sasuke-kun? Trembling she watched him sadly, "What's really wrong?" she whispered as she felt tears of sympathy slip down her own cheeks, illuminated by the full moon in star-filled heavens above them.

"If I tell you, then you will try to talk me out of it," came his cogent statement as he released her from his grasp, resting his hands on either side of her head.

"What is it," she demanded, her emerald eyes glistening with concern.

Dropping his hands by his side he looked down at her, "Naruto did this," he replied with an ironic slanted grin as he pointed to his eyes, and that's not even half of it…

Sakura looked down, her eyes scanning from left to right in confusion as she felt her heart beating strongly in the back of her throat. Naruto?