A/N

THE LAST CHAPTER!!!!

What was Lost, What was Gained

Ch. 16

Sasuke POV

Naruto and I had been running most of the day, it wasn't hard to track Itachi-he left plenty of clues as we continued on our way, he wanted us to follow him. Naruto and I had hardly spoken. In truth I believe we didn't have much to say. Naruto was still angry about what happened earlier and my decision to not protect Sakura from Itachi the first time and I couldn't find the words to blame him. This time when I found Itachi I would protect Sakura with my life, my brother already knew about Sakura and I but this time I'll make sure Sakura doesn't get hurt.

"What's with that look?"

Naruto asked. Not really looking at me but from the corner of his eye.

"Nothing really….I've just come to a decision."

Naruto POV

I continued to watch Sasuke, he had a look I couldn't help but wonder. He seemed more relaxed but also went like the old Sasuke; calm, reserved and unconnected.

"What decision would that be….?"

"About Sakura."

He said plainly. I wonder if he saw the small smile crack on my face, maybe just maybe Sasuke was going to make the right decision.

"We're close."

Sasuke said motioning towards the craving on the tree and drops of blood left on the branches, a clue both Sasuke and I weren't enraged about when we discovered it. Our pace quicken and before long Sasuke and I were standing in front of a monstrous cave. I looked at Sasuke and he looked at me, both knowing Itachi was waiting in there, with Sakura.

"Let's go."

Sasuke said quietly, nodding I followed him by his side.

Just like we thought Itachi was waiting, he was sitting on a rock like throne and Sakura lay unconscious next to him on the ground.

"Sakura!"

I yelled without much thought, and unconsciously took a step forward. Itachi raised his hand bringing me to a sudden stop.

"Itachi! Today you are going to die, and Sasuke will be the last Uchiha!"

I barked. I expected Sasuke to say something but he stood on my left glaring at his older brother, intense hatred pouring from his eyes, the eyes that held the sharringan.

"As much as I would love to be glared at all day I do have a schedule to follow little brother, so I'll kill you…"

Itachi turned his head and looked down at Sakura.

"…but don't worry, I spare you to the inch of your life that way you can watch as I kill your…beloved…"

I was sure my teeth were going to break or at least crack at how hard I was biting down. Itachi turned back to us.

"Then after her, I'll kill you…"

Itachi's voice held no regret as he turned to me.

"Unfortunately Naruto I can not kill you. Though you are quite the troublesome child you have purpose. Don't worry Naruto I promise I'll dispose of their bodies in a proper manner, after all Sasuke is still my brother…"

With that final word Sasuke took off towards Itachi, his sword being drawn from the sheath. I charged following Sasuke right behind, my shadow clone jutus ready. Itachi too created a shadow clone. Just what Itachi wanted…to separate Sasuke and I. The only thing that was sure, either Itachi was dying or him, because no matter what. Even if there was no way for me to beat Itachi., I would kill myself, there was no way I would let that sick man have the demon in me, its my burden and my alone.

Sakura's POV

The pain finally began to spike back. My vision still blurry but I was able to move my body. In the back of my head I could hear the clashing of metal and yelling of jutus. My eyelids felt impossibly heavy, but I found the strength to open then. I know I didn't look like it but I was shocked to see Naruto and Sasuke. I opened my mouth trying to call out their names…no…I was trying to call out Sasuke's name. Nothing, not even a groan escaped my throat. All I could do was watch the battle until I could some how gain control of my numb body.

Naruto had just jumped and finally destroyed the clone Itachi, but at a great expense. It looked like Naruto had broken his left arm and had kunai in his back. Did my eyes dare to travel to Sasuke? I wanted to cry but I couldn't. Sasuke looked like he bathed in blood. A river of blood traveled down his face and covered his clothes. Soon Naruto stood next to Sasuke both looked like they had hit rock bottom. Then again Itachi wasn't in the best shape, Sasuke and Naruto had both pushed him to a limit he hasn't seen in a while. Both my teammates charged and continued the battle. No words were spoken, then again Sasuke and Naruto never needed to communicate when fighting.

"I will admit brother, you and the fox fight well, but I'm afraid that I must end this now. I am running behind schedule. I could see Itachi's eyes change. Sasuke looked at Naruto through the corner of his eye, Naruto had done the same.

"Naruto this is it, but I warn you…."

"I know…you get the final blow."

Naruto gave a giant smile and turned back towards Itachi. Then in a flash the three shinobi clashed.

"Sasuke! Watch out!"

My body jolted up. Itachi appeared behind Sasuke stabbing him in the back and holding him in place. Naruto had been thrown to the ground. Being a medical ninja I could see from the area Itachi stabbed Sasuke was paralyzed.

"This is the end Sasuke, your death will not be a waste. I do have other plans for your body before you find your final resting place. Or at least I have use for your eyes."

Naruto tried to struggle to his feet…spitting blood from his mouth. Then something snapped. Naruto's hair began to grow wild and his frontal teeth became fangs.

"Sasuke…."

His voice growled as red chakra began to surface. Itachi didn't even blink an eye.

"Now, now Naruto. I will get to you next, but first I have to kill my little brother."

Itachi raised Sasuke's sword and held it across Sasuke's throat. Sasuke's teeth cletched together, just the bits of his fingers twitching trying to make a jutus.

"Goodbye brother."

The sword moved…metal hitting the ground.

Somehow my body acted and I jumped on Itachi's back and ran my kunai across his throat. It was luckily Naruto's evil chakra had covered mine when I moved but Itachi had seen it just before I made contact. Which means I cut his throat but not fatally, he jumped away from us clutching his neck. I caught Sasuke as he fell down and Naruto was calming down but his eyes were still blood red and beast like.

"Sasuke! Sasuke! Are you alright!?"

I yelled. But Sasuke's eyes were on Itachi as blood dripped between his fingers.

"I should have killed her and kept her body. It looks like you eyes and Naruto habe evaded me again. But be warned little brother, I will have everything. I will make you suffer in every possible way brother."

Itachi created a hand sign and vanished, suddenly Sasuke's whole body came back from its stupor.

"NO! Itachi!"

Sasuke pushed me down and ran to where his brother was, his sharringan searching the area.

"He's gone! NO!"

Sasuke dropped to his knees and began beating the ground with fists. Naruto walked over, I was ashamed because for a brief moment I didn't want to touch Naruto, he still had the look of a beast. Helping me to my feet Naruto closed his eyes and I was amazed that he slowly began to change back. Sasuke continued to beat at the ground, cursing with all his breath. I had turn away he wouldn't want anyone to watch him like this.

"Naruto let me heal your wounds."

I wanted to heal Sasuke too but I dare not go near. Naruto agree and removed his shirt so I could see better. Healing Naruto never took hardly any chakra, he did most of it on his own. We waited. Sasuke had stopped abusing the ground and was kneeling there still, not saying anything, not moving.

Suddenly Sasuke stood up. It startled Naruto and I. Sasuke walked over and picked up his sword and turned back to us.

"We should set up a camp. Konoha back-up will be here by morning most likely. We can not anything know…we need to heal."

We didn't say anything but followed Sasuke outside the cave and into the woods.

The sun has just gone down and Naruto was finishing up any defensive traps while I was bandaging up Sasuke, non of us had said anything for hours.

"Well that should do I guess…uh, Sasuke are you going to take a look at them?"

"No…I'm sure they're fine."

Naruto shrugged, waved to me and said good night to us. I started putting away my medical kit when Sasuke suddenly grabbed my hand. I looked up at him thinking he was angry but he wasn't. Instead he just stared at me.

"Come on Sakura I want to talk to you alone."

I didn't say anything but let him pull me to my feet as he led me away from the campsite. We walked for a few minutes until we came to a small clear lake. I stood and admired the lake, the stars above dotted the lake like diamonds.

"Its beautiful."

Sasuke placed his hand on my waist, turning me towards him.

"Sakura…I'm sorry."

His voice didn't fail him like mine would.

"Sasuke…"

The rest of my sentence was muffled when Sasuke firmly pressed his lips to mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he crushed me to his chest. This wasn't like Sasuke, he was never like this. Somehow Sasuke and I laid on the grass still in a passion lock. Laying me on my back Sasuke looked down at me.

"Sakura, I.."

"I know Sasuke."

I realized then what we were doing how Sasuke and I ended up spending all night together showing what passion we had.

3 weeks later

I sat on my bed, Naruto right beside me, he looked down at me a look of disappointment and frustration.

"What are you going to do?"

"Live on."

Naruto gave a growl type noise, I couldn't blame him for being mad. The last three weeks all we both did was search for Sasuke, again. After he left me again, after that night we shared. I woke up the next morning…alone.

"Sakura…This time its not all about you. We've searched for him for years because we both cared, what happened now should only make you want to find him more!"

I didn't look up at my long time friend, I was too busy rubbing my stomach imagining the new life growing within me.

"I know, but Sasuke…when he left…."

"Sakura he needs….you and the baby…."

"I know Naruto…but right now…I don't have the strength. I promise I will never give up wanting him, to come back and loving him. But for the first time I can't just go after him, he can't be my first priority. "

Naruto relaxed his shoulders and placed his hand on my shoulder.

"I promise Sakura I will be here for both of you. And the promise I madeto you years ago about Sasuke I will still keep, this time Sasuke will have more to come home to then just you and me."

Today was the day I realized why Sasuke had said he was 'sorry' he was sorry for the pain he out me through and will put me through and how this was the descion Naruto had told me Sasuke had made before the battle with Itachi.

Like the last few days I turned and cried on Naruto's shoulder, like the last few days Naruto let me cry understanding my pain, like the last few days our hearts ached with sorrow of our lost teammate.

A/N

There is a story after this and it is the last of this story line. I already have written several chapters and this will go by much quicker. Give me reviews please, I love them.

p.s Sorry I haven't written in a while.