Author note: I am so so so sorry about how late this update is. I am terrible.

I owe you guys an explanation. During the summer while I was writing this, some really bad family issues came up. For awhile I stopped writing because of them, then when I started again I didn't know what to do. I found this chapter a few days ago on my computer and thought I'd upload it for you. I'll try my best to keep updating for you, though I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't read this anymore after my awfully late update.

I cannot say how sorry I am for this.

Sakura burst into the Hokage's office.

Panting she told Tsunade breathlessly "Sasuke... Sasuke-kun is awake."
Tsunade's eyes widened in surprise.From the injuries he had received she had expected him to be asleep for another week at least. She rose from her desk sending the seemingly endless piles of paperwork scattering across the floor. Tsunade stepped over them and indicated for Sakura to lead the way.

Sakura walked as fast as she could through Kohona to reach the Hospital. Tsunade was struggling to keep up with her. On the way they bumped into Naruto

"Oh,sorry I'm in a hurry," Naruto said turning towards Sakura. "Sakura-Chan? Oh I'm sorry am I late? I thought I was on time."

Sakura smiled and replied, "No, you're not late. It's just… Sasuke-kun is awake!"
Naruto's jaw dropped.

"Teme is awake?"

Sakura nodded, and they carried on walking towards the hospital. The silence crackled with tension. Naruto and Sakura were both anxious to talk to Sasuke. Naruto wanted to ask why he hadn't killed him that day. Sasuke had said he has spared his life on a whim, but Naruto knew there was more to it than that. Naruto wanted to repair and strengthen the bond between them again. He wanted to be friends and rivals again. He almost wished they could go back to the way things were before Sasuke had left. Naruto knew in his heart that it couldn't happen. Whether Sasuke was his friend or not he had still betrayed Kohona and the consequences would be serious. Naruto didn't even know if Sasuke could still be a shinobi anymore. Naruto shook his head. He should just be happy Sasuke was back. He shouldn't be thinking of things that could happen already.

Sakura noticed the look of concentration on Naruto's face. She rarely saw him like this. Naruto was normally so carefree. He loved living and normally: that showed on his face. But today she could see the conflict in his eyes. She could see that the news Sasuke had woken up had shocked him. She could also see that Naruto wasn't sure if it was a good thing or not. Sakura sighed. She hated how awkward things were between her and Naruto at the moment. She realised things could become worse now that Sasuke was awake. Sakura knew that Naruto had broken up with her so that she could be with Sasuke, ,But she could still see that he was hurt that she hadn't been able to love him.

"Um, Sakura-Chan, why are you staring at me?" Naruto asked her.

Sakura blushed. she had been so lost in her thoughts that she hadn't noticed she was staring.

"Sorry Naruto, I was just thinking."

Naruto nodded and they carried on walking.

"Look we are nearly there," Naruto said pointing into the distance

"Hai..." Sakura replied. She had noticed how Naruto didn't ask her what she was thinking about. Normally he would have asked. Maybe he felt it wasn't his place to ask her questions.

The doors to the hospital slide open as they arrived and as they walked through a nurse hurried up to them. "Tsunade-sama, Sasuke is refusing to cooperate, he says he doesn't want to stay here."

Tsunade was livid. She didn't understand how he could be so ungrateful. She was giving him medical treatment when she didn't have to, considering how he had betrayed this village.

"Thank you," she replied to the nurse. "We will see him now and try to persuade him otherwise." The nurse bowed and hurried away.

Tsunade saw the look of concern in Sakura's eyes. Tsunade could see that she was worried Sasuke would leave again. Sakura had never got over the pain of him leaving the first time. It could leave her broken if he left again. Tsunade looked at Naruto. His fists were clenched and you could see the frustration in his face. Tsunade realized Sasuke's leaving had affected Naruto as much as Sakura, just in a different way.

Sasuke heard the sound of footsteps outside his room. He was sure it was the nurses coming to fuss over him again. He couldn't stand their constant, fake concern. They didn't care about him. No one did. No, that was unfair. Sakura did care for him. He didn't think she trusted him though. Sasuke sank down into his pillows and sighed. He wished he hadn't messed everything up with Sakura. He had been so naïve and he hadn't given her so much as a backwards glance as he had left. However over the years he realised how much he missed her constant concern and her admiration for him. He had realised how much he liked to be the centre of attention.

He wondered why he still couldn't beat Itachi. He had left everyone so that he could get revenge on Itachi, but why hadn't it worked? He had trained hard over the past few years. Did he still lack hatred?

He was mulling these thoughts over in his head when the door slid open.
"I'm fine so let me go home. I have better things to do than sit around in bed all day", he called from the bed without looking at who was standing in the doorway.

"That's no way to speak to a Hokage who had kindly let you back into this village, is itSasuke?" Tsunade replied casually but her eyes flashed dangerously. Sasuke realised that now was not the time to argue. In the state he was in now he couldn't fight Tsunade. From outside the door came the voices of Naruto and Sakura. Sasuke sat up. He felt a surge of nervousness. Would they still want to be friends with him after what he had done to them?

Sakura nervously stepped through the door, quickly followed by Naruto. Sasuke noticed that Naruto had a large smile on his face but it looked forced. Tension filled the room. The awkwardness and expectations felt like a smothering blanket and they were all gasping for air trying to find something to talk about. Sasuke realised he didn't know anything about his best friends anymore. They had grown up without him. He realised how much he had missed Kohona since he had been away.

He looked at Narutos' fake smile and wondered if there was more to the fake smile than him. Could there be something else? Sasuke sensed a tension between Sakura and Naruto and realised something had gone on. He was intrigued to know what it was but didn't feel it was his place to ask.

Sasuke then looked at Tsunades' disapproving expression and lowered his eyes .He didn't have the right to demand anything .Tsunade was the reason he was still alive. If it hadn't been for her and Sakura he would have bled to death. She had allowed him to receive treatment even though he had betrayed Kohona. He should be grateful even though he realised if it wasn't for the fact Naruto and Sakura still cared for him he would have been left to die or he would have been dispatched to be interrogated by the ANBU as soon as he had woken up. He realised Tsunade disliked him even without looking at her. He could feel it radiating from her.

Sasuke looked at them all. Naruto and Sakura had changed so much since he had been away. They were both more mature and showed a new found confidence in their skills. Sasuke knew that although Naruto always said he was the best ninja and that he would become Hokage one day, he could tell it was just to cover up the fact that Naruto thought he was weak.

Sasuke spoke with a new-found humbleness. He knew he couldn't order round his friends and the women to which he owed his life. He wasn't better than them and they had an inner strength he didn't possess.

"Tsunade-sama, please can I be discharged from the hospital? I am taking up a bed which I'm sure can be put to a better use. There are people in worse conditions than me."

Tsunade was shocked. She couldn't believe that Sasuke was acting so humble. It wasn't like the Sasuke she used to know who thought that everyone else was dirt under his shoe and that he was unbeatable. Itachi must have really beaten him badly for him to be this humbled. She secretly thanked Itachi in her head.

"I will give you one last check up and if, and only if, I deem you are healthy enough to leave, you may go. We will discuss what shall happen to you after I have given you a check up" Tsunade said while indicating Naruto and Sakura to leave the room. Sasuke nodded and Naruto and Sakura left.

"What do you think Tsunade Baa-Chan meant by discussing what will happen to Sasuke?" Naruto asked when he had slid the door closed.

Sakura sighed. Sometimes Naruto could be such an idiot. "Naruto, Sasuke betrayed Kohona. He was a Missing Nin. He will need to be punished. If he isn't, other ninja's will wonder why. They might get angry that Sasuke had done wrong and not been punished and question Tsunades motives and question whether she should continue to be Hokage. Also Tsunade might want to interrogate him as he could have information that is useful to Kohona." Sakura explained.

Naruto nodded and he and Sakura sat in silence waiting. They both hoped that Sasuke would be let out of the hospital so that they could continue to get to know each other again. Almost 3 years had passed since they had last seen each other.