Look At Us Now

By ValkyrieWorrior

Disclaimer: Okay, if all of the following happens to be true, then you would know I own Naruto. Okay, Naruto and Sakura are married with a little one on the way. Sasuke wouldn't be so cold. Hinata could say more than, "N-Naruto-kun." (Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with Hinata, she's nice) And maybe Itachi likes Sakura (the pair is so unlikely that it's tempting).

A BIG THANKS for those who reviewed.

templar132: You're right, Naruto was the only one worrying on the last chapter. But see, I felt like I should explain his feelings first, then Sakura's. Also, I think it's better that the readers see things in Naruto's pov. It's just that I didn't want to get too angsty, which is a problem because this story is screaming out angst. But THANKS for pointing that out, it helped.

PinkYellowRoses: THANK YOU!

full-metal-sousuke: hehe, sorry. Hope this makes up for it. (I actually plan to have a seperate conversation for them, but I didn't put it in here).

Ambs1516: Hmmm...hmmm...I'll reply when the time comes...

darnod: Thanks. I don't like it when it takes a month to update a story, so I try my best to UD fast.

dbzfan: thanks : )

Advent Griever: You'll find out soon enough.

As you may have realized, there is very little clue, or none at all, as to how Sasuke will be once he killed his brother. Is he nicer? Just as cold as ever? I don't know. So, be warned, I may have to twist some things for the story and how I (note, ME) PERCIEVE Sasuke.

Summary: Sasuke comes back to Konoha. Naruto hides his feelings. Sakura is indecisive. Sorry about the couple summary on last chap, I was just scarying you guys. Narusaku, Sasusaku, Naruhina?

Onward...(I need a new line '--)

'thoughts'

"talking"

Inner-self

Flashbacks

I wish I could make you truly happy

So you would never want to leave this place...

Previously...

"Goodnight, Naruto," She turns around as she said those words, "I love you."

"Goodnight." Naruto watches as the door closes in front of him. 'I know that what you say is true, Sakura-chan. I just don't know if you,'

He starts walking away into the night,

'love HIM more?'

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Chapter 3: A question.

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The birds were chirping as the sun once again grazed across Konoha. It was a beautiful day. The leaves were starting to fall from the tree's, scattering on the ground. It was getting colder each day, marking the begging of fall.

Autumn, the season of hard work. Already villagers were beginning their daily task, getting a head start for the day. Husbands going to work to provide food for the family. Wives buying the necessary food and doing daily chores as it is expected of their domestic duties. The children were up and raking the leaves, only to start again because they couldn't help but scattering it all over again. The entire village was on the move.

However, this was not the case for Sakura. She has always been cranky whenever she had to wake up from a peaceful slumber. The brave, but stupid alarm clock that dared to wake her only got what was coming to it as Sakura picked it up and threw it across the room.

'GAH!!Always doing that. Why do I even bother to have it on?'

"Be quiet woman, I want to go back to sleep." Inner Sakura yelled from the 'bed' she was lying on inside Sakura's mind.

Sakura did just that as she too stagnantly dozed off. She was almost dreaming again, but yet another brave idiot woke her up.

"SAKURA-CHAN!" Naruto was right beside her bed shaking her awake. "WAKE UP! I want to go somewhere." He screamed the first part but lowered his voice for the rest.

"NA-RU-TOOOO!!!" Sakura punches his on the face so hard that he flew out of the window, down her house, and landed on hard ground. There he stayed for a minute as his body twitched from her punch.

'What? I don't get it. I was just trying to make sure she was up.' Naruto fidgeted from his lying position on the ground.

Sakura tried going back to sleep, but it was useless. She was already awake.

"AHHH!!" Inner Sakura was just as cranky in the morning.

Sakura decided that she might as well get up. She walks over to the window and sticks her head out.

"Naruto, I'm sorry. Could you just get back up here?"

"Sure, Sakura-chan. Whatever you say." Naruto painfully gets up and jumps up back into her room.

Sakura the hugs him, "I'm sorry again." Naruto wraps his arms around her. Then he felt something tickling him, he looks down to see Sakura healing him.

"There, all fixed." Sakura smiles at him when she suddenly felt something against her lips. Her smile only widens as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"mmmm'

"Now if only this is what we woke up to very morning, I wouldn't mind getting up."

Sakura breaks the kiss to ask Naruto something. "How did you get in my room anyway?"

"Oh, well your mom let me in. I should have probably listened to her when she told me to be on my guard." Naruto laughs as Sakura playfully punches him.

She leans on him and places her head on his chest and closed her eyes.

"Hey, Sakura-chan,"

"mmm"

"Breakfast?" Naruto felt her giggling against him and that made him smile.

"Hehe. Okay, just give me a moment to change." Sakura lets go of him and walks towards her closet. She grabs a few clothes and heads to her bathroom.

Naruto was left alone in her room. He could hear the sound of running water in the bathroom.

He walks over to her bed and sits down.

'Smells like cherry blossoms in here.'

Naruto looks around, inspecting her room. It was his first time in there.

He spotted her closet, beside it was a drawer and right across it was the remains of what once was an alarm clock. He looks to his left and sees a table and right beside it was her mirror. He gets up and walks towards it. As he was walking, he spotted something on her desk.

It was a picture of team seven.

Naruto walks over to the table and picks up the picture frame.

'We were so young back then.' In the middle of the picture was Sakura, with Naruto on her left and Sasuke on her right.

'Sasuke' He sighs.

'I was suppose to save you, teme. For her.'

Even now he still feels hurt. Hurt that Sasuke was her first love. Maybe the love of her life. Sure Sakura was with him now, but that could always change in an instant. Nobody can forget their first love. Sure she said she loves him, but maybe not enough to stay with him once he's back. He wanted to be happy, for him and her, but that's always easier said than done. Naruto knew that he wants Sakura to be happy, no matter what, her happiness was all he could think about.

Even if it means that she would be Sasuke's.

He prepared for the worst. That was all he did the night before, preparing for the worst.

"Naruto," he snaps out of his thoughts, "I'm ready." Naruto turns to look at her while he placed the picture back to its position.

"Okay, Sakura."

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Somewhere outside of Konoha.

A raven-haired man was walking down a covered path. He has holding a small bag on his right shoulder as his right hand gripped it. His left hand was tucked nicely in his left pocket. The guy was wearing a white shirt and black pats. He walked slowly, his posture proud.

He was finally coming back home. After so many years, he has accomplished what he wanted to the most. Killed his brother and avenged his family's murder.

He was a little scared of coming back, but at the same time, he was excited.

'I wonder how everyone is?'

He had thought about this often when he was away and training. He could never admit it, but he was home sick. He missed this little village more than he cared to think. He missed all of it, everyone.

He missed the rookies. Lee's obnoxious and youthful self. Neji's doomed expression. Kakashi-sensei and his perverted books. Naruto and his idiotic ways. Yes, he had to admit, he really did miss the fool.

He was his rival and friend. They would challenge each other to their limits to see who can surpass the other. They joked around, teased each other the way brothers do.

After he left for power, he was no longer able to do these things. He wanted to come back, but his desires for power overtook him.

He understood now that what he chose to do was not the greatest choice in the world. But nobody is perfect. He can't help that now.

All he wanted was to complete his goal and maybe, just maybe, redeem himself.

He has to rebuilt friendships that were destroyed. Apologize to many people, regain his status as a devoted Konoha ninja, which might be hard, and maybe be allowed to be ANBU. But most of all, he felt that he needed to heal a broken heart.

'Soon, I will see you again and this time, I will not screw up.'

Sasuke continues his travel down to the road back to his home.

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"Thanks for breakfast, Naruto." Sakura said to him. The two were walking down the sidewalk after eating a nice breakfast.

"Always my pleasure, Sakura-chan."

Sakura leans her head on his shoulder as they walked down the street. The girl wanted to tell him she love him, but something was making her hold back. Something deep within her that she couldn't let go. Something strong.

"Why are you feeling hesitant all of a sudden?"

She just looks down. She didn't know. All she could do was keep walking down the road with Naruto right beside her.

"You still love him, don't you?" Inner Sakura asked with much pity. How could someone go through all that she has and still have the same feelings. Sasuke tore apart her heart and didn't even apologize.

'I don't know for sure. It's like all of a sudden, now, all those feelings I have buried for him came back.' Sakura was searching deep within herself. 'But, I can say that I do not feel the same way. It's just not the same anymore.'

"But given time, you probably could form feelings for him."

'Probably.'

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It was almost around three in the afternoon. Soon, Sasuke would be back.

"Sakura, I think we should go to the gates now." Naruto looks down on her. She was resting her head on his lap. Her heart suddenly skips a beat.

'He's going to be here soon.' She felt excited all of a sudden. She couldn't control herself.

After so many years, she was finally seeing Sasuke again.

"Okay, let's go Naruto."

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Shikamaru was lying on his bed while looking outside his window.

Honestly, he should be outside doing something for Tsunade, but he just wasn't in the mood. It was such a beautiful day and he wanted to spend it the way he saw fit.

'I wonder if there are clouds out? I can't see any from here.'

His thoughts were cut short by a sound coming from close by. He manages to concentrate enough to figure out that it was the sound of a fist hitting a wood.

'Gah!'

The knocking continues.

"I'm coming!" Shikamaru forces himself off the bed and to his living room. The knocking only continued even after he had said he was on his way.

"Shikamaru, open up!"

'I know that voice. W-what? Why is she here?'

Shikamaru finally arrives at the door. He moves his hand on the knob and pulls the door open.

"Hey, Ino."

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The wind flew by, dragging a few leaves along with it. Not long from now, somebody will make his return.

Naruto is sitting on a bench near the wooden gates that was in front of them. Beside him was Sakura.

The two stared at the double doors. It was getting closer and closer to that time.

Naruto didn't like the silence, so he decided to speak.

"So, do you think he has changed much?"

Sakura turns to his direction.

"I don't know. I think he might be taller now."

"Probably." Naruto looks back at the gates.

"You know," Sakura gestures her head in a way that asked 'what?', "I can only see him as the twelve year old Sasuke."

Sakura looks into his eyes, "Yeah, I know. That's how I see him too."

"I remember one time," Naruto began, "when I was trying to tell him to come back, he was a little bit different."

She looks at him, telling him to go on.

"He was still with Orochimaru then. He was even wearing the snake's outfit. But, he was different."

"You mean like he was taller?" Sakura was trying to understand him.

"No, I mean yes, he was taller, but he wasn't the Sasuke I know."

"What do you mean?" She was having a hard time understanding him.

"He seemed so lonely." Naruto said with sadness in his voice.

"But he's..."

"I know he's always been alone and lonely and I know that he chose that. But I remember, when he was with us, he was happier. If only a little. Sasuke seemed happy with where he was."

Sakura finally understands what Naruto was trying to tell her. It was true. Even though Sasuke was lonely, he did seem happier when he was with them. Even though he rarely said a word, she knew he was happy. They understood that he was alone in the world, with no one there to help him. That's why they vowed to save him, so they could change that. He was their friend, no mater what.

"I know what you mean."

"Sure he was a little cold towards us, but I felt that he trusted us." Naruto was still looking at the doors.

"When he left," it was Sakura's turn to speak, "I felt so sad." Naruto looks at her with concerned eyes. He knew that even though she love Sasuke, this sad was the same feeling that he felt. The same feeling of betrayal. They felt that they weren't good enough for him to stay.

"But somewhere deep inside of me knew it was going to happen. I just knew it. But, that didn't stop it from hurting."

Naruto puts his arms around her, trying to comfort her.

"Sorry, Naruto."

"Don't be Sakura."

"It's just that," Sakura was interrupted by Naruto.

"I know, Sakura. I know. It hurts me too."

Sakura wipes the tears that were building up in her eyes. She laughs a little.

"Let's not talk about the past anymore, Naruto."

He looks down on her and smiles.

"Alright." Sakura frees herself from Naruto and stands up.

"Man his taking forever!" She exhaled as she streched her arms.

Naruto chuckles, "Hehe. I know. How long has it been already?"

"Too long."

Naruto was taking aback by the new voice. He shoots his head to the direction it was coming from. He's eyes widen.

Sakura jumps from her standing position. Her whole body shakes. She knows the voice.

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"Ino, what are you doing here?" Shikamaru asked his friend.

"Can I come in?"

Shikamaru was a little shock to see her, but happy at the same time.

"Oh, of course." He moves to the side, giving her enough space to go in. Ino walks in and Shikamaru closes the door behind her.

It was quiet.

Ino was trying to figure something out in her mind, while Shikamaru just stands there in wonder.

"So, what can I do for you?"

"What's wrong, Shikamaru?" Ino looks up face to face with him. Her sudden question made him uneasy, but he wasn't going to let her know that.

"What do you mean?" He tried to ask her to assert that he had no idea what she was talking about.

"Damn it, Shikamaru! Stop lying to me!"

Ino's abrupt statement made him feel guilty.

Well, he wasn't lying to her, he was just not telling her what she wanted to hear.

"I know something is bothering you." Ino moves her head down. "The way that you seemed niggled by anything lately, I know something's wrong. Just tell me, Shika." Ino cried out to him.

Shikamaru felt bad that he was making her feel this way, but he had no other choice.

"Look Ino. I know that you're just trying to help, but there's nothing wrong." He tried to convince her.

"Why won't you tell me?" Ino looked really hurt. "Do you not trust me?"

"Of course I trust you."

'Then why won't you tell me!" Ino was starting to get really mad. Shikamaru was no different.

He wanted to tell her, but he just couldn't. There are rules you just don't break.

"So what if I did tell you, what would you do then?" Shikamaru angrily replied.

Ino was a little surprised by this. "Well, I'd help you."

"That's it? You'd help me?" Shikamaru was trying to make her mad, it was the only way. "What if you can't? Then what?"

"I can help. Just tell me, I will help you!" Ino rushes to him. They were inches away from each other.

"Ino, I think you should just go home." He walks away from her. This was hurting him to do this to her, but he couldn't think of anything else to do. He wanted to tell her, but it was better she didn't know.

Ino was really hurt by what he did. Why is he pushing her away when all she wants to d is be there for him.

"Why?" Ino said, she is really hurt.

"Ino, I'm tired. You should go home."

"FINE. Be like that Shikamaru. All I want is to help you but you push me away. If you want to be like that, then fine!" Ino rushes out of his apartment.

'I'm sorry Ino.'

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The moment was almost dream-like. No one said a word, the wind had died down, and even the birds were quiet.

It has been so long since they had seen each other. So long since they had stood together.

The two looked at their friend, examining him carefully. He changed.

His hair was longer now, just as long as Sakura's. His eyes still displayed a mysterious look in it. Sasuke was indeed taller, maybe taller than Naruto.

His body was well-built, muscles greatly defined.

Sakura noticed that he has replaced his outfit. He was wearing a white shirt, with his family symbol still on the back. His wore black shorts. Simple, just like he wanted.

Sasuke was looking at them as well, doing his own examination. He smiles at them, a weak smile, but nevertheless a smile.

"Hey there Sakura. Naruto."

When was the last time that he said that? He thought that he would never again see his friends, that he was doomed to die alone. But seeing them again gave him hopes that maybe things could be the way they use to be. When they were team 7 and Kakashi as their leader.

They smile back at him.

Sakura was on the edge of crying. She could believe it was really him. So long since she last saw her friend. Naruto was feeling the same way.

Naruto couldn't help but feel happy for this moment. The one they have been waiting for for seven years. Their friend was finally home.

Sakura couldn't hold herself any longer. She runs to Sasuke and hugs him tightly.

"Sasuke, you're really here." She was sobbing now, her emotions getting the best of her. Sasuke places his arms around her. He too couldn't believe it.

"Welcome back teme." Naruto was now beside the two.

"Good to be back, dobe."

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"So, Sai is my replacement?" Sasuke asked the girl sitting across him. She was on the couch inside Naruto's living room. Naruto was in the kitchen making some hot cocoa for them to drink. After they reunited at the gates, Naruto suggested that they go back to his place. It was getting cold and his place was the closest. So, now here they are.

"Yeah. He's a great fighter. But one rude guy." Sakura was just telling Sasuke about team Kakashi. Their new leader Yamato and the new member Sai.

"Haha, Sakura-chan's just saying that because Sai constantly makes fun of her 'monstrous strength'." Naruto said as he made his way into the living room, balancing the three mugs on hot cocoa on his hands.

"Enough with the monstrous strength already!" Sakura smacked Naruto on head, making him fall down. Luckily, Naruto had placed all three cups on the table.

"Oww, Sakura-chan." Naruto cried on his position on the floor.

"I see you two haven't change at all." Sasuke added as he grabbed one of the cups.

Sakura was immediately beside Naruto.

"Just a little." Naruto added.

"I'm sorry, Naruto. Come on, let's drink the cocoa." Sakura helps him up on his feet. The two made their way back to the seat and sat beside each other.

"So, anything else happen while I was gone?" Sasuke took a sip of the hot delicious gift from above.

Naruto takes one of the cocoas and gives it to Sakura, who gave him a smile in return. He grabs the last one on the table.

Sakura takes a sip before saying, "Well, I'm dating Naruto."

Sasuke suddenly tenses up. His chakra spiked up. The cup he was holding almost shattered into millions of pieces. He was taken aback by this statement. How could it be? She was suppose to be his. Suddenly he felt like jumping across the table and breaking Naruto's head. If he hadn't concealed his chakra, he would have seemed suspicious.

He tried to hide the fact that he did not like that they were a couple.

"Oh, well about time!" He lied as he took another sip of cocoa, but really he was enraged.

Naruto looks at his friend. Sasuke simply drinks his cocoa. He seemed calm.

'Maybe he really doesn't like her after all. Then that means I don't have to worry. But Sakura...' Naruto thought to himself.

The three ninjas stayed about two more hours just catching up. Sasuke had told them about his escape from Orochimaru and finally finding his brother. He had actually challenged him when he saw him, but lost. However, the second time he saw them, he managed to finally beat his brother. They also talked about Kakashi, Tsunade, and everyone else.

It was getting late and Sasuke still had to report to the hokage.

"Well, I guess I have to go." Sasuke gets up and starts to head for the door. "I really did miss you guys."

"We know, Sasuke." Sakura followed him and gave him one last hug. Naruto was just standing beside them.

Sasuke gave them one final look and disappeared, leaving a cloud of smoke.

Naruto closes the door, while Sakura begins to clean up. He walks over to the table and picks up anything she hadn't.

Sakura was washing the cups in the sink when Naruto asked her something.

"Do you still love him?" Naruto knew he was too front about his question, but he had to know. Everything he ever believe could be denied or proved right by her answer. Any doubts that he had will be clearified by her answer. He desperately needed her to answer him.

Sakura was surprised by his question. Though she knew why he had asked, she just wasn't prepared to hear it so soon.

"Well, do you?"

"..."

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End of Chapter three

SORRY about the lack of narusaku in the last two chaps...I'll make up for it.

I PROMISE YOU THAT SHE WILL ANSWER HIM ON THE NEXT CHAPTER.

I'm not saying what the answer is though. Here's a clue. Something happens to someone. : )

Also, I know that Sakura was jumping from one emotion to the next, but that's how I see her reacting.

And sorry for the lack of descriptions and explanations. I just wanted to show how they feel, or not feel, through conversations.

I really feel like I'm not explaining Sakura's side here, so I will do that on the next chap.

Please tell me if you like this story. Tell me anything I could work on, I will take any suggestions. Criticism is welcome, it only makes me better (hopefully).

One last thing. Considering how I want to write the next chapters, this is not going to have many chapters. But, on the bright side, the chapters are somewhat long.

Alright, THANKS again to everyone who reviews.

Rena.