A/N: HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY, and this is my gift to you. An early update. Thank you once again for all those wonderful reviews I received and I am glad to see so many people enjoying the story.

Thanks Izzy for your review and kind words, it was greatly appreciated.

Disclaimer: Last time I checked I did not own Naruto in anyway.

Previously

"Am I annoying you?" she asked.

"No why?"

"Just wondering, I know you usually don't like talking on the phone"

"I don't"

"Oh ok then ill let you go"

"I don't like talking on the phone but it doesn't mean I don't mind listening" he said and Sakura smiled as they spent the next two hours on the phone, Sakura talking about anything and everything as Sasuke listened. He found her voice soothing and relaxing so that by the time they wished each other a goodnight he was able to fall asleep quickly, a small smile gracing his features as he did so.

Sakura was in a similar state. She had just spent a whole day with the boy she loved then two hours talking to him on the phone. She didn't know how tomorrow would play out, or how Sasuke would act being around others but she found she didn't want to think about that. She was just content remembering today as she drifted off to sleep.

-

-

A different kind of brothers

Sakura smiled as the sun's rays woke her from her slumber. She could hear her alarm clock going off and smiled as she sat up and stretched. She was looking forward to today even if it was the first day of the week. She wondered how Sasuke was and if he had managed to get out the house unseen this morning. She remembered that she would have to tell Naruto their conclusion and ask him to see if Sasuke could live there. It wasn't safe for him at home anymore.

Luckily Sasuke would be sixteen soon and hopefully would be able to live permanently at Kakashi's. She knew Kakashi would take him in, he did have a lot of space and Sasuke was a lot easier to live with then Naruto. Thinking if it she remembered that it was Naruto's birthday soon as well, in just a couple of weeks in fact. She laughed at the thought of her hyper friend turning sixteen. They had all grown so much since they were little kids.

Flashback

"Naruto" a thirteen year old Sakura shouted as the blonde grinned from behind the teachers back.

"I'm just having some fun Sakura"

"Yeah well stop, we have to get this done" Sakura told him, turning back to their group project. It was the last class they had to work on it and Sakura didn't want to get a bad grade. She knew Naruto couldn't afford to get one either and although Sasuke being the top of the class and extremely intelligent needed the mark to, his grads had been some what skipping since the accident nearly a year ago.

"I am" Naruto argued as Sakura looked at him and sighed before gluing down another square of information. Sasuke snorted softly at Naruto but continued with the heading. Sakura knew he was better at art than she was, even though he wouldn't admit it. And there was no where she was allowing Naruto to do their heading.

"Naruto" she said again as Naruto started cutting up the scraped paper and allowing it to fall to the floor like confetti.

"Hey I'm just mucking around"

"Well don't"

"Aww your no fun Sakura"

"Yes because I want to finish this" Sakura replied angrily as Naruto grinned in response.

"Dobe leave her alone and do something useful for once" Sasuke muttered still not looking up at him.

"Your one to talk teme, how much help have you been huh?"

"Hn"

"See I thought so" Naruto said loudly in an overconfident tone.

"Who do you think was responsible for the information dobe?"

"But Sakura was the one who typed it all up" Naruto told him still grinning like an idiot.

"Yeah and I gave it to her didn't I" he said as Sakura sighed loudly at the two.

"Well I have been helpful, I got the poster paper and art supplies" he pointed out as Sasuke snorted again.

"We all know Kakashi got them, you only brought them to school dobe"

"Hey" Naruto said as he crossed his arms in annoyance.

"Sasuke stop it, Naruto had been very helpful. He sat their and told me what to type"

"He read it from the page I wrote" Sasuke informed her as she sighed again.

"Leave him alone" she ordered as Sasuke muttered something under his breathe and retuned to drawing their heading which already looked like it was on flames.

"Why does he listen to you and not me" Naruto asked as Sakura smiled.

"Because I am more important" she replied.

"So you think" he said as she smiled again and continued gluing down the things.

"Hn"

"See teme agrees with me" Naruto told her.

"Really?"

"Um I think so, you can never know what he is really saying. You know maybe he thinks his saying words but his minds so damaged that Hn is the only thing that cokes out" Naruto said thoughtfully only to be pushed to the ground as Sasuke hit him painfully on the head.

"Hn dobe" he muttered as he returned to the project. Naruto sat on the floor and looked up at Sakura.

"Don't expect my sympathy you deserved it" she told him as he growled and sat back down.

"It still hurt teme" he muttered.

"I know" Sasuke replied making Sakura giggle lightly and Naruto to smile a little.

"Besides at least Sasuke is doing something usefull" Sakura pointed out. "Now I'm going to grab some new glue" she told them as she headed up to the front, though unknown to the two boys she could still hear them.

"No fair" Naruto mumbled as he sat back down.

"Hn help her glue, she wont be mad at you then" Sasuke muttered as Naruto grinned.

"Ok teme"

"Dobe"

"Oh and the heading looks cool" Naruto said quietly as Sasuke smirked. Sakura smiled to herself, they might fight but yet they were best friends and she could see why.

End flashback

Sakura smiled as she walked to school, memories of the three friends still in her mind. She was glad their friendship had survived so long but will it always be so. How would her going out with Sasuke change all that. What would happen if Naruto got jealous or worse she hand Sasuke broke up? Could they ever really be the same?

"Come on look at Ino and Shikamaru. This was exactly what Ino was afraid of and they are doing fine so me and Sasuke will as well" Sakura told herself as she entered the school grounds.

-

-

"Hey" Sakura called as she approached the three girls.

"Sakura" Ino said giving her a hug as Sakura laughed at her friend.

"What's up with her?" she asked the other two.

"Lets just say she had a rather nice date with Shikamaru yesterday" Tenten replied with a smirk.

"At least I go on dates" Ino said and Sakura saw Tenten's face fall slightly but the girl just shrugged.

"Good for you" she told her as she turned to see Naruto and Sasuke walking over to them. Naruto grinned as he gave Sakura a hug then stood next to Hinata and put his arm around her.

"Hey Hinata" he greeted as Hinata blushed.

"Where is your cousin anyway?" Ino asked looking around. "And where is Shika?"

"I think Neji went to look for him" Hinata replied. "Something about not wanting to be stuck with us girls"

"Why wouldn't he, I love hanging with you guys" Naruto said as the girls laughed.

"Morning Sasuke" Sakura said.

'Hn" was his reply as he stood with his hands in his pocket.

"Still grumpy as usual I see, at least his not avoiding us anymore" Ino said out loud as Sakura's smile faltered. So nothing had changed after all, she was silly to think it would. Sasuke noticed her expression and sighed. He knew what Sakura was like; she was an emotional girl and liked expressing her feelings not hiding them like himself. He moved next to her and took her hand in his.

"Hn" was all he said to Ino's comment as Sakura smiled as she felt his hand in hers. Ino gawped at them while Naruto grinned, Hinata smiled and Tenten gave an approving nod as if she wasn't even surprised at all.

"Wait what exactly is going on with you two?" Ino demanded as Sakura smiled and blushed slightly. She herself didnt know what to call their relationship so remained silent.

"What it looks like" Sasuke replied as Ino started at him but was interrupted by the arrival of Shikamaru and Neji. Shikamaru wrapped his arms around Ino's waist and hugged her from behind while Neji just stood their. Tenten looked from Sakura and Sasuke's intertwined hands to Naruto with his arm around Hinata then to Ino as she smiled in Shikamaru's embrace and sighed. Sometimes she wished her and Neji could be like that but he barely acknowledged that they were going out.

Shikamaru looked at Sasuke and Sakura's hands in surprise but didn't say something as Neji too took notice but seemed unaffected by this. The bell went and the groups separated but first Sakura quickly whispered in Naruto's ear "We need to talk, by the tree at first break. Bring no one"

"Ok" Naruto replied as Sakura smiled and departed for class.

-

-

"What you really think Itachi is involved" Naruto asked as Sakura finished filling him in. Sasuke who was sitting beside her nodded.

"I do"

"And besides it all fits, I mean his attitude and all" Sakura pointed out as Naruto frowned.

"I don't know but I think your right on the whole Kakashi thing. If Itachi is involved then Kakashi must know something."

"Perhaps we should tell him what you found out Sasuke. I mean he may or may not have an idea of what happened but it couldn't help having him on our side" Sakura suggested.

"Hn I guess" Sasuke said not sure if it was the best idea but he trusted his friends.

"So what do we do now, you think Itachi knows you know?" Naruto asked Sasuke.

"Yeah"

"How" Sakura enquired as Sasuke sighed.

"He said something to me this morning"

"I thought you said you avoided him" Sakura said.

"I did but just as I was heading out the door he said something from the hall, I just said whatever and left but I'm sure he knows"

"Why what did he say" Naruto demanded.

"Id stop trying to get answers before you get killed if I were you. The more you try and get information the more likely painful accidents will happen" Sasuke repeated as Sakura frowned.

"I don't like the sound of that" she murmured and Sasuke took her hand in reassurance.

"Yeah it's defiantly suspicious" Naruto added with a frown. "Teme I think your in danger"

"Hn cause I hadn't figured that out for myself dobe"

"I was just saying" Naruto argued.

"I now it's dangerous which is why I wanted you two to have nothing to do with it" Sasuke pointed out as Sakura looked at him sternly.

"Well I still don't care, I'm with you on this till the end."

"Yeah me to, danger doesn't scare me" Naruto said loudly as Sakura smiled and Sasuke smirked.

"Though" Sakura said quietly, "I don't think staying with Itachi is a good idea. We don't know what he might do, or is capable of"

"Yeah he sounds dangerous" Naruto pointed out.

"What other choice do I have" Sasuke muttered.

"Well I have been thinking that maybe, if it's ok with Naruto of course, that Naruto asks Kakashi if you can stay with them" Sakura suggested as Sasuke frowned and Naruto grinned.

"Of course its ok with me, we can go ask after school today"

"But" Sasuke began not sure what to say.

"Look Sasuke" Naruto said firmly and Sakura's eyes widened at the seriousness of his voice. "I am not taking no for an answer. It's dangerous with Itachi and you need to get away before something happens. You're the closest I have to a brother and I wont allow Itachi to take that away from me so your coming to live at my house whether you like it or not"

Sakura smiled as Sasuke started at him in disbelief before he looked down at his feet and remained silent.

"I mean it Sasuke" Naruto said as Sasuke nodded.

"I know" he whispered and Naruto smiled at his friend.

"Besides I get lonely when Kakashi is away and it would be cool to have some company"

"Hn" Sasuke said and Naruto could have sworn it meant a thanks.

"Well I got to go talk Hinata, meet you both at the gates after school so we can go ask Kakashi" Naruto told them as they nodded and he disappeared.

"Sakura" Sasuke said after awhile as Sakura looked at him. He looked well nervous.

"Yeah"

"I was um I guess I was wondering maybe if um I guess if you maybe"

"Sasuke" Sakura said laughing at his embarrassment, "you're not making much sense"

"Hn"

"Just say it"

"Hn fine your coming out with me on Friday" he told her as she smiled.

"Do I have a choice?" she asked as he smirked and kissed her softly.

"No" he replied as she smiled.

"Well then id love to"

-

-

Naruto met the two at the gates and they headed to his house. It was a relief that Sasuke was acting like his old self. Well the old self that he was at the start of the year, though he seemed a little happier even if it was hard to tell. Naruto also noticed that he was holding Sakura's hand and couldn't help but grin. He was glad that they had worked things out. He would have hated it if they hadn't.

They arrived at his house as Naruto opened the door and strolled in. Sakura felt Sasuke let go of her hand and smiled as they walked to the lunge to see Kakashi reading his book.

"Well hello you two, haven't seen you guys for awhile" he said smiling though it was hard to tell because he always wore a mask over his face.

"Afternoon Kakashi" Sakura said brightly as the three took seats. Naruto and Sasuke on the couch with Sakura on the floor leaning against Sasuke's legs which made Kakashi raise an eyebrow.

"So what's going on with you two huh?" he asked with a grin as Sakura blushed.

"What do you mean" she managed to say as Sasuke smirked and Naruto laughed at her embarrassment.

"Oh shut up" she said angrily as Naruto laughed harder and Sasuke hit him over the head.

"Hey teme"

"Dobe"

"Teme"

"Dobe"

"Will they ever grow up" Kakashi asked out loud as Sakura smiled.

"Probably not"

"Thought as much" the man said as he watched the two argue. "They really are like brothers in a lot of ways"

"Yeah" Sakura agreed as the two looked at them.

"Anyway" Naruto said turning to his adoptive father. "Well we wanted to ask you something"

"Ask away" Kakashi said with a hint of amusement.

"Well can teme come to live here for awhile, its um well not that safe at his home?" Naruto asked in a somewhat pleading tone.

"I don't have a problem with it" Kakashi replied as Naruto grinned and jumped up.

"YES come on teme lets go get your stuff" he called as he raced out the house.

"The spare room is already set up for you" Kakashi told him and Sasuke looked at him and nodded. He didn't know what it was but he had a feeling Kakashi had been waiting for this moment.

"I appreciate it" he said quietly as Kakashi smiled at him.

"You're like a son to me Sasuke, same as Naruto and Sakura. Though maybe a daughter for her" he added with a laugh. "I promised your parents I would watch out for you and I intend to do so as long as I'm still alive. My home is your home and welcome to you any time you need. As am I here whenever you need as well, don't forget that"

"Hn I wont" Sasuke muttered but he felt something lift from his heart as he walked to his house with Sakura and Naruto. Before a thought occurred.

"Sakura maybe you should wait at Kakashi's for us, in case Itachi is there"

"So what if he is" she said.

"Yeah I'm with teme it could be dangerous"

"You're not leaving me out" she told them and after a short argument they agreed to let her come. Though neither boys were very happy about this.

They arrived to find the house empty and as fast as they could they packed a few boxes of clothes and other supplies for Sasuke. Naruto told him that all his games and DVD's could be his so Sasuke didn't need much. Both could see that Naruto was looking forward to this idea. To him it would be like having a brother again. Though Sasuke was always a brother to him.

It didn't take long and Sasuke gave a quick glance at his room before turning with a box in his arms and walking away. Naruto and Sakura hurried to follow both carrying boxes of his stuff as well. They were almost out of the house when a voice spoke coolly to them.

"And where would you be going?" it asked as they turned around.

"Hn that is none of your business" Sasuke said at the unknown stranger. "I think the question here is what are you doing?"

"I'm a friend of Itachi's" the man replied. "My name is Kisame"

"Hn" was all Sasuke said though both he and Naruto stepped in front of Sakura in a defensive move.

"Well if you excuse me I will just be grabbing a drink" he said with a smirk as he left.

"His probably calling Itachi, we have to get out of here" Sasuke muttered as the three practically ran to Kakashi's. Once there they collapsed on the floor as Kakashi looked at them all.

"Well hello again, all went well I see" he said amused as the three looked at him.

"I better head off, it's getting dark" Sakura said as the boys nodded.

"Ill take your stuff to your room" Naruto said as Kakashi stepped forward to grab Sakura's box from her. Once they were out of sight Sasuke turned to her.

"Be careful" he said as she smiled. His lips descended onto hers as they shared a quick passionate kiss before still smiling Sakura left. Sasuke sighed and took the last box to his new room to find that Naruto was sitting on his bed.

"Ill help you unpack" he announced and Sasuke nodded. They did so in silence before Sasuke thought of something.

"Naruto"

"Huh yeah" Naruto said with surprise, Sasuke didn't usually use his name.

"Do you have any problems with me going out with Sakura?" he asked. "I know you use to like her and all" Naruto grinned at his friend.

"Nah I like Hinata now" he told him as Sasuke nodded and smirked. The two spent the rest of the time mucking around while unpacking then sitting down in relief.

"You know I'm glad you're here" Naruto said out loud.

"You are?"

"Yeah I mean I always liked having you around. You know when you use to practically live here. I missed that when you stopped"

"Hn so did I" he admitted as Naruto grinned.

"Hey boys do you want dinner or not" Kakashi called as Naruto grinned.

"Food" he cried leaping from the room. Sasuke smiled after him, though he knew Naruto wouldn't see. His heart felt lighter than it had in a long time. He felt home, at last. When he had returned to the Uchiha mansion after the accident it hadn't felt like home but for some reason being in his new room, in his new house it felt right. It felt like home.

"Sasuke" Kakashi called.

"Yeah hurry up teme" Laughed Naruto as Sasuke smirked. It wasn't just the home that felt right; it was the people in it. Their was Kakashi who was like a father to him, something Sasuke had missed. And then there was Naruto, who was more of a brother to him than Itachi. They may not be related by blood but that didn't matter. As far as Sasuke was concerned they were brothers in every other way and Sasuke knew he would prefer Naruto to be blood related than Itachi. Yet Itachi wasn't here and Naruto was.

He had always been closer to Naruto and if he could have one wish it would be that Naruto was his brother and not Itachi. But blood didn't matter in a family. It didn't matter that he saw Kakashi as a father and Naruto as a brother even though they weren't related. Blood didn't matter at all. He was related to Itachi but Itachi was nothing to him. He wouldn't even care if he never saw him again. He had Kakashi, Naruto and even Sakura now. He was happy enough with that, more than happy. He did miss his parents, his aunt and uncle but he couldn't help being glad that he had Naruto and Kakashi.

Sure enough he would love it if his parents were still alive but no longer did he wish that it was so, like he had every day since the accident. He found that he was just as happy where he was. He couldn't turn back time and his parents would always be his parents. But Sasuke knew they wouldn't mind that he had found a second family, one to be there while they couldn't. He knew he had never been able to get over his parents death but maybe now it was time to. Now he wasn't alone anymore and he would never be again. He had Naruto and Sakura and always would and maybe with their help he would be able to move on.

He was still going to get to the bottom of what happened to his parents but right now that wasn't his first priority. Tonight he just wanted to enjoy his time with Naruto, and he wanted to spend as much time as he could with Sakura. He wanted to enjoy his life like he once had. He knew it would take awhile to completely come out of the darkness and there would always be that hole in his heart from when his childhood and family were taken from him. But slowly they would help fill that hole and he found that he was ok with that.

'Yes I am home at last.' Sasuke thought to himself as he sat at the table with Kakashi and Naruto. 'I have a family again and this time I will not lose them.'

A/N: I thought it would be nice for Sasuke to have a family again. Anyway please review