I've been fixing errors in my last chapters on and off, so hopefully they look a little neater. Thanks to everyone reading this story and especially thanks to those that actually review. You have no idea how much it means to me. Seriously!

Hope you enjoy this chapter! The more reviews, the faster I'll update!!!

Chapter Three: The Punishment You Receive

"It's times like these that I miss you most, remembering when we were so close."

Tsunade's expression was exactly how Sakura imagined it...furious, shocked, and slightly disgusted. When Tsunade seen Sasuke walk through her doors, right away she ordered ANBU security to tie his wrists in chalkra strings and guard the building exits in case he tried to escape. The whole time, Sasuke was glaring at Sakura, giving her a look that said, 'You better fix this- now!'.

"Sasuke Uchiha! How dare you step foot in this village!" Was the first thing the Hokage shouted, followed by, 'How pathetic', 'You're going to regret leaving', and the all famous, 'We won't let you leave again!'. Sasuke made it all too clear he was barely listening to her, by looking bored and staring at the floor. The only thing that seemed to upset him, was the fact that his arms were tied behind his back.

"Lady Tsunade, please listen to me!" Sakura pleaded as the Hokage ignored her while writing things down on numerous important looking documents. They were probably orders to lock him up forever. "Lady Hokage!!!" Sakura shouted. Tsunade glared up at her.

"What, Sakura? I'm busy." She bellowed.

"Listen to me, you can't be so hard on Sasuke!" She pleaded once again, walking up to Tsunades desk.

"Oh? Why not?" Tsunade growled. Sakura frowned and bowed her head, apologizing ahead of time for anything she might say to upset her master further.

"He came back and turned himself in willingly. Doesn't that count for something?" Yeah...with a little convincing from me!

Tsunade tapped her fingers on the desk. Sakura bit her lip. This wasn't going well.

"He's back, Lady Tsunade. That's all that really matters."

"Is it really?" Tsunade snapped. Sakura jumped, throwing her head up. "The fact that he abondoned the village and fled to an S-class criminal...that doesn't matter?" Sakura only frowned. Her master had a point. You couldn't just overlook those things. They were unforgivable sins to the village.

"But he's back, and will serve punishment!" Sakura said. She could feel Sasuke's glare behind her. This is harder than I thought. Wasn't she suppose to be getting him out of punishment? She wasn't helping.

Tsunade sighed. "He can't just be let off so easily." She said, giving Sakura a sympathetic smile. She knew Sakura's feelings were clouding her judgement. "Please understand, Sakura."

"No!" Sakura fought back, causing a sour face to form on the Hokage's face. "I'm not asking for you to just let him go free. But go easy on him!" She pleaded. She felt pathetic, trying to protect a criminal. But she knew him...loved him. She was doing this for Naruto as well.

Tsunade sat up straight in her chair and sighed. "Sakura..." Sakura's breath grew shallow. Would her Master give in, or start shouting in a fit of rage?

Tsunade could only imagine how Sakura felt, seeing Sasuke after so long. And she could imagine Naruto's feelings when he saw him as well. No doubt Naruto would want to punish Sasuke in his own way. Tsunade had never known Sasuke all that well, but...

"What will make you happy, then?" Tsunade said softly, smiling. She didn't want Sakura upset anymore. Sakura exhaled loudly and smiled. She looked back at Sasuke, who had a victorious smirk on his face.

"Have him go in for interrogation. He has much to tell you." Sakura explained, hearing Sasuke's 'hn' behind her. Like, how he killed Orochimaru!! "Withhold him from missions for atleast 5 months..." Sakura's smiled faded. She knew Sasuke wouldn't be here for even half the time. "And lastly, have an ANBU guard be with him contantly. Someone very smart and skilled, to keep him under control." She finished.

Tsunade nodded and rummaged through some papers on her desk. "I think I can do that." She said busily. Sakura nodded and bowed her head.

"But!!" Tsunade shouted, glaring past Sakura and at Sasuke. He simply glared at her. He had such a lack of respect for the Hokage, it was ridiculous! "You may not commence any kind of training for a period of time." She said, pulling a paper from the stack on her desk.

Sasuke clenched his teeth. This was not what he wanted. How long exactly would he have to wait?

"And I'll assign you a home for the next month as well. We'll have the Uchiha estate cleaned up a bit. When you move home, you can train, but only under supervision." She explained signing the paper and stamping it. "For the next 5 months, you're on tight reigns. One screw up and you're in confinement." She finished, standing up and folding the paper. She waved it around.

"This is the order to arrest you if you do anything unlawful or suspicious. Do you understand?"

Sasuke nodded and turned his head away. Wow, he hated the Hokage. This was going to suck.

"Alright, release!" She ordered. The ANBU guards cut the chalkra strings around his wrists. Sasuke rubbed his wrists viciously.

"The ANBU guard I assign will be with you most of the time. He'll meet up with you later." She explained, walking over and handing the paper to one of the guards. Sakura slowly walked over to Sasuke and smiled at him.

"You're welcome." She whispered. Sasuke only rolled his eyes. Whatever.

It was later in the evening now. Sasuke and Sakura walked through the streets of Konoha, earning him some shocked stares and of course, many dirty looks. Sakura explained how she was now a chunin and Naruto had just passed the chunin exams, though his strength was clearly jounin level. Sasuke seemed particularly bored throughout all her ramblings, barely paying any attention to her.

"Naruto's a lot taller, and a little more mature, but not much. And Neji, well he's a jounin now. Um...Hinata has long hair and Ino is still annoying as ever. Shikamaru...well he's still lazy. Kurenai is pregnant and-"

"Sakura...I don't care." He glared down at her. Sakura only rolled her eyes.

"Well, you should. You'll be here a while."

"Only until I get some training in." He stated. After a minute of silence, he spoke again. "I want to know about Kakashi."

Sakura giggled. "He's still the same, always late."

"I meant, if he can train me."

"Oh." Sakura stopped walking abrubtly. They were right in front of Ichiraku Ramen. Sasuke took a few more steps and stopped, turning around to look at Sakura.

"What?" He asked. Sakura stared into Ichiraku. Under the drapes, she could see somebody's pant legs. They were familiar. Naruto. Sakura sighed and walked up to Sasuke.

"Mmmm! Thanks a bunch!" A voice shouted from inside the ramen shop. The legs jumped off the stool and started walking out. Sasuke's eyes widened. Even he recognized that voice. A head came out from under the drapes and took a few steps before stopping. Naruto's eyes widened as his jaw dropped.

Sasuke almost had the same reaction. Sakura exchanged glances between the two boys. "H-hey, Naruto." Sakura said, with a nervous smile plastered on her face.

After a minute of silence and intense staring, Naruto closed his eyes tightly and reopened them, as if trying to see if this was a dream. "Sa-su...ke." Naruto stuttered. It had been about a year since they had met at Orochimaru's lair, and that hadn't exactly gone well. Sasuke's expression faded and became emotionless once again.

"Naruto." He said firmly. Naruto gasped as reality hit him. It's really Sasuke! It's that bastard! He ran up to Sasuke until they were only a few feet apart, causing Sasuke to take a step back.

"I-it's you! But why? Have you come to your senses and came home?" Naruto said, his body trembling. Sakura smirked. Yeah, she was shocked like this the first time she seen him too.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. I'm here, aren't I? You idiot. "I'm here to train, loser." He growled, causing Naruto's eyes to widen. A small smile grew on his face and he chuckled nervously.

"You're back!!!" Naruto shouted. Sasuke rolled his eyes.

"I'm only here for a while. Don't get used to it."

But Naruto just broke out into all out laughter. "I-I don't know if I should hug you, or beat you to a bloody pulp!" Naruto said gleefully.

Sakura smilled wryly. Besides Naruto being hysterical, this is great! We're all together again...

"Neither." Sasuke said coldly. Naruto regained a bit of control and ran his hand through his hair.

"How long have you been back?"

Sasuke shrugged. "A day."

Naruto chuckled and turned his gaze to Sakura. "Have you known all this time?" He asked. Sakura only nodded, causing a small frown to appear on Naruto's face. "Aw, Sakura...how come you didn't tell me?"

She closed her eyes and put her hands behind her back. "Well I...thought it was a dream actually...until we ran into eachother today." She stated.

Naruto paused, remembering Sakura's odd expression this morning. He ran his eyes over her. "Hey, uh...Sakura, your hair! It's gone!"

Sakura sighed and ran her hand through her hair. "You said that the first time I cut it, Naruto."

Sasuke merely listened to the two ramble on. He noticed Sakura's expression grow dark, not to mention she still looked ill.

"Sasuke, how did you manage to leave Orochimaru?" Naruto asked, interrupting Sasuke's thoughts.

"I killed him. There was nothing more I had to learn from him."

Naruto's expression wasn't as shocked as Sakura's was. He only nodded and yawned. "Wow, Sasuke. I can't believe this. You're really back in Konoha." Naruto patted Sasuke on the shoulder. "Now we can train together!" He smirked.

Sasuke nodded and smirked back. Sakura yawned and checked the time on her watch. Wow, it's getting kind of late. She wasn't feeling too hot either.

"Naruto," Sasuke said, placing his hand gently on Sakura's forehead. She looked up at him surprised, blushing slightly. "Take Sakura home. She's sick."

Naruto glanced at Sakura and nodded. "Alright, but once your living arrangement gets situated, we have to go see Kakashi. He'd want to see you." Naruto said, grabbing Sakura's arm and turning around. Sasuke only nodded.

After a few steps, Naruto stopped and turned around, looking at Sasuke. He released Sakura's arm. "You're still a bastard!" He called.

Sasuke's heart jumped. Still, huh? He smirked. "And you, a loser."

Naruto chuckled and started walking again. Before catching up to Naruto, Sakura smiled at Sasuke. He's back...for real. This isn't a dream.

Sasuke's expression softened, and much to Sakura's amazment, a very small smile drifted across his face, causing her heart to skip a beat. She turned around quickly before letting him see her blush and caught up to Naruto.

Sasuke stood there, slightly upset with himself. So much for not rekindling any old bonds. He sighed.

"Cute reunion."

Sasuke jumped and looked behind him.

And who are you?

Next Chapter: The Name Of Protection