Chapter 2: The Returning Climax

He woke up sore, tied to a tree, with a perfect view of the Leaf Shinobis arguing. Naruto and Sakura were having a heated discussion about them finding Sasuke and pathetic attempts on figuring out how come he wasn't Orochimaru's 'other half'. They blamed themselves for not finding out faster and other nonsense. Lee, who seemed to be the expedition leader, was trying to figure out what to do with the situation. They could not return while Sakura and Naruto were going on like this; he was sure she would send one of her famous punches flying any second… Of course Sasuke was the main cause of all problems. According to Sasuke's observations, Hinata was the only one with any sense by trying to calm everyone down. Her attempts were always failures as she only received bloodcurdling insults and "Mind your own business!" responses, if noticed at all.

After a while she gave up and walked off in a huff, clearly extremely disappointed in her team mates. Sasuke was getting terribly uncomfortable with his arms wrapped around the tree, and back pressed hard against its bark.

"Hyuuga," Sasuke hissed after a long mental debate if he should stay silent or not. Hinata whipped around, her pearly-white eyes doubling in size. "To keep me alive, you might want to stop strangling me with these ropes." A deep blush disappeared as quickly as it came after Sasuke's words. She approached him cautiously, knelt beside him and activated her byukagan. With a gentle tap on his shoulders, Sasuke's chakra highway was cut off.

"Damn you…," Sasuke murmured as Hinata freed him from the tree, but made a tight leash around his hands. Surprisingly, his remark made her smile.

"I'm sorry Sasuke," Hinata's high pitched voice said quietly. "Sometimes confronting problems, head on, resolves them." She made him stand, and Sasuke was just about to ask what the hell she meant, when she threw him into the middle of the arguing group. Immediately they shut up.

What the hell happened to the Hyuuga heir that made her so violent?! Sasuke thought has he shot Hinata a murderous look.

"You guys. We're all tired, we're all confused. Hungry," Hinata looked at Naruto. "Let's go home."

"But –" Naruto interjected eying out Sasuke.

"I've blocked his chakra highway already. We either both knock him out cold and drag him home or we make him come quietly," She was now addressing Sasuke.

Sasuke was ready to reply a harsh comeback when Lee sent him into oblivion, with a simple swing of his hand.

---

There was a lot of commotion when Lee entered Tsunade's office, Sasuke hanging over his shoulder like a sack of flour. Naruto, Sakura and Hinata right behind him.

Tsunade was in a meeting when they stormed in. However, she quickly dismissed the present ninjas and threatened that if they would even utter a word about the person Lee had just lowered off his back, she would personally hunt them down. They quickly dispersed without further ado.

Kakashi was quickly summoned and there was a grand moment of simply staring at the unconscious Uchiha. Everyone seemed to have their comments and points of views, but no one knew when it was legal to utter a word and how to express their ponders, so kept their thoughts locked up inside their cluttered minds.

"How is this possible?" asked Tsunade finally with a clear tone of surprise. "Orochimaru is reported alive and well, with resemblance of Sasuke, and still, here he is."

"He could be an imposter," suggested Kakashi, his normal wisdom stunned to silence.

Naruto shook his head. "He's Sasuke alright." Sakura nodded slowly in his defence.

"Godaime-sama, what should we do with him?" asked Lee.

"Well," Tsunade paused to ponder. "I will inspect him for any traces of information that might tell us what happened to him, while he is unconscious. Then Kakashi will guard him at his place until next morning. Then I want Team 7 and Kakashi in here tomorrow morning 10 o'clock sharp. And then I mean Sasuke as well.

"For now you all keep quiet and go home. But Lee, I expect a report on your mission handed in to Shizune before the end of the day."

They all nodded feebly, and left the office alone with Kakashi and Tsunade, Sasuke lying motionless on the couch.

"Should I try talking to him later on?" Kakashi questioned.

"If you believe it worth the trouble," Tsunade said gravely, her eyes still staring at Sasuke.

---

No one can truly understand how it feels to grieve for someone's death and then to find that person alive and well – no one except than those who experienced it. Only few people in the world say they have, either through deceit or hallucinations. In Konoha there was two blatantly affected by this experience.

Naruto had taken the news of Sasuke's 'death' bad. He hadn't been himself, and his nearest and dearest would even have considered him depressed, though this would never be admitted aloud. With help from those who understood this, he came over that hard time within six to twelve months. Having a gloomy and depressed Naruto compared to the energetic a bubbly blonde they had always known, made them all feel that it became the longest year of their lives.

When Sasuke returned, they prepared for the worst, therefore keeping an eye on Naruto at all times. However, Naruto stayed calm on his visits to Kakashi's apartment – Sasuke's current location. Kakashi's flat stayed intact.

No, on the contrary – Naruto pratically skipped down the streets. He treated his friends to ramen at Ichiraku, and hardly ever complained. (Those oblivious to the Sasuke situation constantly speculated on what on Earth had happened to the blonde.) This died down after he had been granted access to see Sasuke after two days of his return. Of course, Sasuke and Naruto glared, teased and threatened each other as usual, but Naruto left Kakashi's home happy. Sasuke, however, felt like he was hospitalised in an asylum.

---

When he wasn't visiting Sasuke, Naruto was on Sakura's back about Sasuke. Sakura, had problems simply over coming the shock. Her brain had interpreted the return, but her heart still had Sasuke's tombstone tattooed across it. She needed time to sort out her thoughts, but Naruto never let her. She ended up using Naruto's weakness for genjutsus to her advantage to get a moment of peace.

It took finally Sakura a week until she considered herself brave enough to confront Sasuke. She had no idea why it had been so hard. Her academy days had proved that any fact could easily be mapped into her memory, so why couldn't this one?

Sakura didn't know how to prepare herself. She took one and a half hour to choose and get into a 'perfect' outfit, and on her way to Kakashi's apartment Ino had to shout to make Sakura enter the flower shop after standing outside the Yamanaka family business, motionless but deep in thought, for at least fifteen minutes.

"Sakura, what's up? You seem hazed," Ino grinned as Sakura followed into the store.

"Oh, I… I guess I've got a lot on my mind," Sakura faked a smile and reminded herself that Ino had no idea about Sasuke.

"Well, can I help you with anything?" offered Ino. "Either as a fellow kunoichi or a flower arranger. Or simply a friend."

Sakura smiled and scanned the shop warily. "A flower arranger would do."

"I thought it was a man's job to give flowers," Ino said cheekily as she handed a potted Sweet Pea plant to Sakura over the counter, after practically going through the whole store with her.

Sakura rolled her eyes. Typical Ino, trying to fish out the fresh scoop on everything. "Can't you treat yourself once in a while?" said Sakura cheekily as she left the store.

She heard Ino holler after her: "I'll check for the plant next time I'm over at your place!"

---

Sakura knocked on the door after much hesitation. Kakashi swung it open, the trace of shadows from a cheerful smile was clearly shown by his trademark mask.

"Sakura! I'm glad you could join us!" Kakashi welcomed her. Sakura stepped inside the shabby apartment cautiously. Sasuke looked up from his sitting position on the sofa, his glossy black hair swaying with the motion. He was wearing one of Kakashi's shirts and as Sakura had remembered him, no forehead protector. Naruto and Hinata who had been sitting opposite Sasuke spun around to see who the new visitor was.

"Oh, I didn't know you two were here-" Sakura started.

"Sakura! I was wondering when you'd come to your senses!" Naruto exclaimed cheerfully, oblivious to the fact that Sasuke was sitting a metre away. Sakura gaped; she could strangle that blonde right now.

"Um, Naruto. I just remembered we had that thing we had to be at… We have to go now so we're not late," Hinata nudged Naruto.

"Thing? Hinata, what are you talking about - ?"

"That thing. Come, we have to go," Hinata pulled at Naruto's orange sleeve. Naruto stuttered after Hinata, clearly very confused.

The door slammed, and Kakashi grinned harder, Sakura tried a foolish smile herself. Sasuke looked away.

She then remembered the Sweet Pea plant she was holding. Sakura motioned it towards Sasuke but thought better. "Here, Kakashi-senpai. I thought your place needed some sprucing up with a guest and all."

"Thank you, Sakura," Kakashi took the pot politely, though not knowing what to do with it. "I'll… put it in water!" He made an exit to the kitchen.

Sakura opened her mouth to tell him it was planted, therefore only needed to be watered regularly, but stayed silent when realizing he was giving her and Sasuke some space. She edged closer to the guest.

"So… how are you?"

"Fine."

Oh God, here comes the icy exterior. Sakura forced a smile, and told herself continuously to not give up. She sat down in the armchair opposite Sasuke.

"Um… how's your wound feeling?" she motioned to his abdominals.

Sasuke frowned "You healed it?"

Sakura nodded. "Uh, yeah… I became a medic-nin a couple of years ago." Sasuke raised an eyebrow as though by disbelief, and pushed the subject aside.

A pause of silence echoed through the room.

Sakura looked shyly at her hands. Why was the old Sakura appearing now? Why wasn't the new, smart, confident Sakura she had grown into emerging? Was it because Sasuke – her supposed past – had returned? No. Just because he's back, doesn't mean I'm going back to my weak me. Sakura straightened her back and ran a hand through her short, pink hair and smiled a real smile.

She looked up with a new aura of confidence. "I hope Kakashi is taking good care you. Though if you're smart you might have figured out that to get a decent meal around here you have to fix it yourself!"

"Hey! I'm right over here!" Kakashi shouted from the kitchen.

"By the way Kakashi, the plant is planted. You don't have to do anything except water it everyday."

"Ah…"

---

"So, I heard Sasuke is back," said Neji half-questioning.

"Yeah, yes he is," Sakura sighed with a smile. She had bumped into Neji while going home from picking up some food supply, of course his conversation starter had been like the hundred other people Sakura had seen that week: is the Uchiha really back?

"Oh, ok," Neji replied curtly and concentrated his vision on something else but the kunoichi.

"Neji," Sakura looked at him innocently shifting her paper bags full of food. "You mind helping me home with these bags?" Sakura motioned to her overloaded arms.

"Oh…sure."

Somehow the twisted and unexpected fate had pulled Haruno Sakura and the Hyuuga closer together. Sakura would always remember the first time she saw Neji, thinking that nobody could ever be close enough to classify their relationship as "friendship" with that boy. Destiny had apparently proved her wrong.

You could say Lee was the glue that stuck Sakura and Neji into this friendship. It was about a month after Sakura's seventeenth birthday when Lee came running towards Sakura in full sprint.

"Sakura!" Lee skidded to a halt. "You have no idea how happy I am to see you!" He was drenched in sweat as if been running in full speed for at least a mile.

"I'm glad to see you too… I guess," Sakura chuckled, a bit confused.

"Well, we got to go. Now!" Lee panted, starting to sprint once more, now clasping Sakura's hand.

Through the panting and running, Sakura found out that Lee and Neji had been training together - as in sparring. Their match dragged on until time had no value, also making them go further and further away from Konoha. The training turned more and more brutal, until finally, Lee used his newest technique – an unperfected jutsu, which gave Neji a remorseless, hard thrust on his chest. He crashed hard onto a tree, moulding his form into the bark, and making him fall numb onto the ground. After seeing what contrite damage he had done, Lee ran desperately for help for his team mate.

They were indeed far away from Konoha, as it took half an hour to reach Neji at the fastest speed possible on foot. When they arrived, Neji was still sprawled on the ground, half conscious.

"He was unconscious for at least a minute right after it happened," informed Lee when Sakura started to check Neji for the major trauma. "I only moved him away from the tree over there – the one he crash into – so he could lie down, and put him on the side. I didn't move him anymore, as you've said to me once or twice that you should keep still in case you've broken something, you know."

"If only you could apply it to yourself," Sakura muttered to Lee as she took a closer look at Neji's back. The sight told her this would take a while.

Unfortunately Neji had landed right on a section of the tree where some smaller branches sprouted out of, one of which had pierced a backside muscle right through, causing Neji to have lost a lot of blood over the time.

"Lee, what is Neji's blood type?" Sakura interrogated the worried Lee.

"Um… I think it was 'O'…," Lee tried to recall the obligatory facts he had learnt when his team had advanced to chuunin level.

"What do you have?"

"A."

"Aha… Lee you were lucky to find me on my way home from work at the hospital."

"Why's that?" asked Lee as she saw Sakura dug around her medical bag and find an injection syringe.

"As I've got blood type 'O' too," replied Sakura before wincing when inserting the needle into her skin, retrieving blood.

---

Lee was forced to go get more medics as Sakura was growing weary after a hard day of work and now another intense health case in addition. The medics took a good hour until they came, but Sakura was too absorbed into her work to notice. Along with the dirty wound from the branch and the blood loss, Neji had fractured two ribs, but broken one right in two at his back. As it had been broken so close to the spine, when Lee had moved Neji, the whole rib had moved out of place, distorting a few muscles and creating a horrid vision for the spectators. Sakura had been afraid that he had received a hard hit on his head as well, but it seemed as though he had landed mainly on his back.

The medics wrapped up Neji so he was ready for transport and left the scene of the accident within minutes. Though exhausted from training and sprinting back and forth from Konoha, Lee carried home the somnolent Sakura. "My way of gratitude" Lee had called it later on.

Neji's injuries would heal well, and wouldn't cause any trouble in the future of his ninja life. That is, if he followed Tsunade's strict orders of staying in bed until a medic gave him the all-clear. The head Hyuuga family, who had turned very friendly towards Neji in the past few years, made sure Neji was luxuriously accommodated during his bed-rest, and Hinata came in often to check on him.

Sakura volunteered to be Neji's doctor. She always became attached to her patients' cases, and had continually insisted to Tsunade of being the one sending them home. During those periods of checking Neji's torn muscles and making sure the ribs were healing in the right places, the pink haired kunoichi managed to make the famous cold-hearted genius talk. By the time Sakura gave him the all clear, they had formed a friendship worth something.

---

"Well, here's me," said Sakura as she opened the door to her apartment. "Thanks for helping me with my bags."

"No problem," Neji replied, avoiding Sakura's eyes. He suddenly looked at her as though about to say something, but then pushed those thoughts away. "I'm glad I could help. I'll see you around." He left with his usual small nod as a goodbye.

No matter how long you know him, Neji will always be a mystery. Sakura mused and started to get her special 'Me'-time ready. In other words soaking in a warm bath with extra much bubbles and then snuggling up in her sofa with a take-away. Life could be bliss.

Next time, I could invite Sasuke maybe…

---

"No."

"Oh, come on Sasuke, It'd be fun…!" Sakura pleaded. "I mean let's face it; you really did stir things up when you left. It'd be nice to stir things up again, now that your back…you know…" Sasuke looked at her unimpressed by her persuasion skills.

"No. And if you plan to surprise me, I swear you will regret it."

"Fine, fine. Be a party pooper," Sakura sighed heavily and sank into Kakashi's sofa. There was a rapid knock and immediately afterwards the front door swung open.

"S'up," Naruto grinned gleefully as he welcomed himself into the apartment and sank into the armchair opposite the one Sasuke was sitting on.

"Sasuke's being a party pooper," Sakura put on her innocent puppy-dog look as she looked from Sasuke on her right to Naruto on her left.

"He always is," Naruto said simply and reached for a grand blueberry muffin perched gracefully on a random plate on the coffee table in the middle of the three different seats in the living room.

"Why? What did he do now?"

"He refused a 'welcome back' party," Sakura shifted her position on the couch. "He could at least appreciate my offer." She glared at the Uchiha who was pretending not to notice the conversation taking place.

"Yeah well, what did you expect? He's just a cold hearted, hollow-headed, arrogant son of a –"

"I'm still here, and can still kick your ass," Sasuke cut off Naruto's insults. Naruto grinned sheepishly but still only gave his visual attention to the near-gone muffin he was devouring.

"Oh, Sasuke, I didn't see you there. Care to join our little convo 'bout how you are such a mind-numbingly boring, idio – OW!" Naruto rubbed his head from the hit he had just received from a flying cup. The shatter of the glass was a numb sound, compared to the curses Naruto was mumbling under his breathe. Sasuke stared aimlessly towards the other direction of Naruto as if innocent, but Sakura saw the small twitch at the corner of his mouth. She couldn't help but laugh when Naruto started choking on his muffin.

"Sakura-chan, you're on his side?!" Naruto looked at Sakura distraught after surviving the choke attack, only making her laugh even more. Naruto and Sasuke just stared bewildered at the kunoichi as if she was possessed. She died down after a while and tried to regain her senses.

"We have to clean that mess up before Kakashi comes back," said Sakura motioning towards the scattered cup pieces on the floor.

"Why should he care? It's just some glass," Sasuke snarled.

Sakura rolled her eyes. "You clearly don't know Kakashi. He'll use every opportunity to either tease us or make us in debt. He loves leaving the bill at Ichiraku's for us to pay." Naruto huffed as if saying "Tell me about it...!"

"Nothing a shinobi can't handle," Sasuke replied empathetically. Sakura gave up with a low sigh, but Naruto was growing restless.

Naruto shifted dangerously his position on the armchair. "Listen you duck-styled-hair modelling, piece of –"

The front door opened with a swoosh and in entered the famous copy-ninja, a stern expression on his face.

"Why can I never finish my sentences around here?!" Naruto exclaimed.

"You can do that later," Kakashi waved off Naruto. "Sasuke we need to talk."

---

Ooo! You have no idea how fun it was to write that ending scene! It was very entertaining indeed! I hope you enjoyed it too! Well, next chapter... you'll just have to wait and see what the fuss is about! XP I'm just telling you this: it's called "Treason"...DUNDUNDUN!

Please review!

//OTRamble