a/n: Welcome back to my fic! I'm glad that people enjoyed Sasuke's return. I'm starting to hit some writer's block, so it might take me a bit longer to update. But that shouldn't bother you guys! I mean how many authors do u know that update almost every day? Anyway, on with the fic:

Chapter 26: Cheating Death

White lights whizzed by as Sasuke stared up from his mobile bed. He had an oxygen mask strapped to his face, and 3 medics rushing him into OR.

"How bad is he?" Tsunade asked.

"Severe chakra depletion, shattered bones in right arm, and internal bleeding above the liver." Sakura replied quickly. The team pushed his stretcher through the doors into the OR.

"Alright, Sakura I need you to begin healing the source of the internal bleeding. Shizune, begin healing the bones in his arm." Tsunade ordered.

"Hai!" The medics said together. They formed the chakra in their hands and began to repair the near dead shinobi. Sasuke was awake the whole process, oxygen mask still strapped to his face. Tsunade began to transfer chakra into his body. The Uchiha heir felt the rush of chakra fill him. He felt stronger than he had in 3 days. The incident and the journey back were imprinted into his mind.

"Amatsu-mari!" Sasuke cried. The white light engulfed the surrounding shinobi. Sasuke closed his eyes and focused onto his brother.

"So you're killing yourself to get rid of me eh?" Itachi asked mockingly. Sasuke shook his head.

"Nope. I'm just killing you." He replied with a smirk. He grabbed his brother's cloak and spun him around. Itachi took over Sasuke's body and was hit by the white light. He flew backwards and felt the entire building collapse onto him. As the boulders fell onto him, he looked back on his little brother.

"Not…Bad….Sasuke…." He choked out before dying. The presence of Itachi left as Sasuke returned to take over his body. Though he was alive, his body should be dead. It took him a long time to reserve just enough chakra to poof out of the rubble. He stood outside and watched as his team leave. He raised his arm to stop them, but fell flat on his face.

"Damn it." He said with a raspy voice. His right arm was dead. He could tell that the bones were destroyed. "I have to get back to Konoha. Tsunade-sama can heal me." With his good arm, he pulled himself off the ground and slowly took a step forward. A shooting pain went up from his leg. He hissed in pain, clutching his leg. He panted and wheezed, vision beginning to blur. "Must…get…back…" He activated his cursed seal and his sharingan. With a burst of renowned strength, the Uchiha heir trudged forward. His right arm held limpy at his side. After the first 100 feet, he found a fairly firm stick, which he picked up and began to use to help him walk. He continued onward, only thinking about the large welcoming gates of Konohagakure. He let his leg bleed from the open wounds where the rubble had struck. It was a miracle that he was still walking. The power of the white snake was keeping him alive. He was much like Naruto now, with a demon inside of him that gave him strength and kept him alive. However, this white snake was what kept Orochimaru young, and powerful. Sasuke's initial use of this power was to kill Itachi. Now that his goal was complete, he was lucky to have a use for the demon.

Day one passed by, as he dropped himself onto the ground underneath a tree. His stomach growled with pain. "Food…" he breathed out. He looked up and realized he was under an orange tree. He thanked Kami and reached up with his stick to knock down a few oranges. He pulled a kunai out and attempted to slice the orange with one hand, and stabilizing it by holding it between his legs. Once he cut the fruit into four, he grabbed one of the pieces and bit into it with satisfaction. The juices erupted from the fruit and trickled down his chin. He closed his eyes and took in the sweet taste. He finished four oranges before standing up and continuing his journey. With more strength and chakra, the white snake was able to heal him a bit more. His cuts and bruises started to heal on their own as he walked southeast towards home.

On day 3, he came to the familiar Valley at the End, the border of Fire Country. He looked to the carved images of Shodaime and Uchiha Madara. Memories of the fights between Itachi and Naruto occurred. "So many memories." He said weakily. The Uchiha heir trudged on, down the hillside. It was difficult no doubt. He fell down twice, and had to stop himself by grabbing on to tree branches. His limbs ached, and his breathing grew heavier. He looked up at the gray sky, as the rain started to pour. The cold deluge did nothing to help his journey. In fact, it slowed him down. His right arm throbbed with pain as fragments of bone poked at his muscle fibers. He winced in pain as his arm swung slightly to his slow limping movements. As he traveled through the forest he felt weaker. He fell over and grunted. He coughed up blood onto the grassy floor. Slowly his cursed seal form started to wear off. He now just had the black seal taking over half of his body. His body was dying, and the power of the white snake wasn't helping. "Must…keep…going!" Sasuke yelled. With a burst of adrenaline, he stood up and continued limping on his walking stick. As he reached the gates of Konoha, his vision started to blur. "No…keep going Sasuke…keep going…" The Uchiha heir got to a lamp post about 150 feet from Sakura's house. He collapsed onto the lamppost, his cursed seal fully returning to it's prison. His sharingan was still ablazed as he looked up to see Sakura and Kakashi dashing towards him. He smiled and sighed. "…Finally…" His strength finally gave in as he fell into Sakura's arms.

Wake up Sasuke…

The raven-haired boy opened his eyes to see 4 figures standing around him. He immediately recognized the pink and silver hair. He narrowed his eyes a bit and recognized the two blondes; one by his whiskers the other by her chest. Slowly a smile formed across his face. The others smiled too. Of course, the blonde with the whiskers spoke first.

"Alright Sasuke!" He said pumping his fist into the air. Kakashi looked happy and relieved that his friend was alive. Sakura had tears welled up in her eyes. Tsunade was smiling.

"Welcome back, Uchiha Sasuke." Sasuke nodded his head to her. He tried moving but didn't have any strength.

"You'll be in here for at least a week." Tsunade said. He sighed and looked to his best friend.

"Guess you'll be out of a partner for a week." Naruto grinned.

"I'm giving you all the week off," Tsunade added, "You deserve it. Yamato has been sent out to keep watch of Lightning Country and note the damages." Kakashi turned to the 5th.

"What will people think about the destruction? Do they suspect Konoha?" Tsunade shook her head.

"We have planted evidence of a major gas leak that went unnoticed for a week's time. Enough time to fill the capital building. Elections will occur to choose the next leader, since the royal bloodline finished long ago." Kakashi nodded.

"K-kakashi…" Sasuke whispered. The Copy Nin turned his attention to the teammate and walked over the side of the bed next to him.

"What is it Sasuke?" He asked. The Uchiha heir smiled.

"He's gone now…" Sasuke breathed. Kakashi was puzzled for a moment then it hit him. His eye curved into a smile.

"Now your burden is done with Sasuke." Kakashi said with cheer in his voice. Sasuke smiled and went off into a slumber. The rest of the team and Tsunade walked out of the room to let the the Uchiha heir rest.

Outside, Tsunade poofed back to her office, and team 7 continued walking down the path. Naruto turned to his friends. "I think I'm going to propose to Hinata tonight." He said with a grin. Sakura's face lit up.

"That's wonderful Naruto!" She said giving her friend a hug. Kakashi ruffled the blonde's hair, to his annoyance.

"Go for it, Naruto." He said his eye curved into a smile. The Kyuubi container grinned then poofed away. Sakura took hold of Kakashi's hand and walked towards Mount Hokage. Once they reached the top, the couple went to the nearby bench and sat down. Sakura rested her head on Kakashi's shoulder. The Silver haired jounin wrapped his left arm around her shoulders and gave her a light squeeze.

"3 more weeks." Kakashi whispered. Sakura nodded her head.

"Then we can be together officially." Kakashi thought a moment.

"Well not really officially." Sakura looked up at him.

"Why not?" The Copy Nin looked out to the village.

"That will be on another date." Sakura sat upright and crossed her arms. She was confused and a bit angry at what Kakashi meant.

"Why can't we be together in 3 weeks." Kakashi lowered his head and closed his eyes.

"We will be together in 3 weeks, however," He looked up to meet her eyes. His black eye piercing her green orbs, "we will be officially together later on." It hit Sakura like a ton of bricks.

"Y-you mean-" She cut herself off. Kakashi nodded. Sakura's face went beet red. He wants to marry me? She turned away, feeling embarrassed and overjoyed at the same time. "I-it's a bit early for that isn't it?" She said quietly.

"In 3 years and 3 weeks, I will propose to you, Haruno Sakura." He said before poofing away.

Sakura looked to where he sat then looked out towards the village. She stayed there all day, till the sun set in the sky, and the stars came out to play. Her thoughts were on his last sentence. Hatake Sakura she mulled the idea over in her head. She then raised her hands to the sky and gave an angry cry.

"HURRY UP TIME!"

Back at the house, Kakashi was preparing an instant ramen meal for himself. Sakura walked in, kicking off her sandals and walking into the kitchen. Kakashi watched as she pulled out some yogurt and began eating. He took his ramen over to her and sat across from her eating. Everything was silent, minus the sounds of chewing (from Sakura of course). Kakashi had managed to devour his meal before she had noticed. He had his book out, and he was indulging in the porn that he enjoyed so much. Sakura stood up and threw away her carton. She had mustered enough courage to say something when she noticed that he wasn't in his chair anymore. She looked around and found him in the living room reading his book. She walked over and sat next to him and snuggled into his chest. Kakashi wrapped his left arm around her shoulders, not removing his eyes from the book. The pink haired kunoichi looked up at her lover and watched as he impassively read his favorite series. "Kakashi…" She said shattering the deafening silence.

"Hn?" he asked.

"Why do you keep that thing on?"

"We've had this discussion before."

"But I've seen your face. You have no reason to keep it up." Kakashi sighed and put his book away. He repositioned her so that she was on his lap and supported by her right arm.

"Sakura," he began, "it's just about my…background and…something I don't feel comfortable about discussing…plus I've grown quite attached to it." He said the last part with a smile. Sakura was unsatisfied but leaned in and kissed his masked lips.

"Okay," she said, "but promise me one day you will tell me." Kakashi hesitated at first then nodded his head.

"Promise." He said. Sakura smiled and kissed him one more time. She rested her head on his arm and he whipped out his book again.

After about three hours, the door broke open. Kakashi and Sakura got up surprised. Kakashi pulled a kunai, while Sakura just stood there shocked. The dust cleared and Naruto stood there, his face looking twice as shocked as Sakura.

"Naruto??" Sakura yelled, "What the hell did you break the door for??"

No response. Kakashi pocketed his kunai.

"Naruto?" Sakura asked again, a bit calmer. The blonde boy grinned from ear to ear.

"SHE SAID YES!!!!!!!!"

Sasuke woke up in his hospital bed hearing Naruto's voice. He looked out the window and smiled.

"Congratulations, dobe." He said before falling asleep again.