::Thanks for the reviews! I'm glad at least someone actually thought this story was worth reading…

::Sorry the update took a while… I've got school again…

:: Well, here's chapter 3… I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 3: Bonds I Did Not Break

"Hey lovebirds! I can see you up there you know!" A laughing Naruto exclaimed.

"What the heck is that dobe doing out here?" Sasuke thought.

"NNNNNNNAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRUUUUUUUUUUUTTTTTTTTTTTTTOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" Sakura screamed and leaped off the tree, punching Naruto right in the face.

"S-sorry Sakura-chan." Naruto said while holding on to his face.

"After all this time, I can't believe you're still that annoying." Sasuke said.

"I may still be annoying, but let's see if I've gotten stronger. This time, I'm the one challenging you Sasuke." He said. He's been looking for a challenge, ever since he got back six months ago; everybody was just to busy to acknowledge his offer.

"Sure, let's see if three years of training made you stronger, I did win our last fight after all." Sasuke smirked. He did win that last fight. Though he looked like a weird grey dude with hands sticking out his back.

"Okay then, if you guys have to be like that again. Be careful, both of you." Sakura said.

"Let's go." Sasuke said, and then leaped off to a tree.

"Chidori!" And an electric blast appeared on his hand. He charged at Naruto at full speed, and hit him at the back. "A replacement jutsu. Not bad." Sasuke said, after seeing Naruto turn into a log.

"My turn. Kage Bunshin No Jutsu!" And his clones charged at Sasuke, but he was able to block every move.

"You'll have to do better than that!" Sasuke said.

"Don't worry, I will. Futon: Rasengan!" And a large crater appears beneath him, holding the spiraling orb in one hand, as he charges toward Sasuke.

Sasuke was able to jump out of the way at the last minute, he wasn't able to escape unshaved though. Naruto was able to hit his arm, and with a technique as advanced as a wind release Rasengan, it's sure to cause some pain.

"Wow, Naruto has been doing some serious training! That was amazing." Sakura thought.

"Okay, time to get serious. Chidori Nagashi!" And a current of electricity envelops Sasuke's body, and he throws a volley of chakra needles at Naruto, but it turns out to be just a shadow clone.

"Nice trick Sasuke." Naruto said, appearing behind him. "U-ZU-MA-KI NARUTO REN—" Just as Naruto was about to finish his move, Sasuke disappears.

"Wow, Sasuke-kun, that was extremely fast!" She thought.

"Try behind you!" And Sasuke channels the Chidori current into his new sword, and hits Naruto squarely. Naruto hits the ground –but of course he's not dead.

"Are you okay Naruto?" Sakura asks. As she heals his injuries.

"Yeah." He says, standing up. "Great fight Sasuke."

"Hn." He smirked. "You've improved yourself. But still, you didn't beat me."

"Yeah well, you win some, you lose some. I can always fight you again tomorrow." Naruto replied.

"Would you guys want something to eat?" Sakura asked. After finishing healing the two.

"As long as it's ramen!" Naruto replied.

"Yeah, I guess so." Sasuke said.

And the trio make their way to Ichiraku's.

Naruto orders for them, as usual... and they begin to eat…

"I think you haven't wasted your three years after all Naruto." Sasuke said plainly.

"I see you finally got what you wanted after three years Sasuke." Naruto replied.

"No, I'm not finished yet. He's still alive remember?" Sasuke said.

Sakura overheard the two talking and began to think… "It's all my fault! Why the heck did I have to go and get myself in trouble. He could've killed him already, he would finally get his revenge. But no, I just had to play dumb-damsel-in-distress. I thought all my training could prepare me for this! Now we're still worrying about the Akatsuki, and Sasuke leaving again."

"You okay Sakura?" Sasuke said, staring at her blank expression.

"Yeah, yeah. I was just thinking." She replied.

"About what?" He asked.

"About, well, the past… you know, this place holds a lot of memories for the three of us…"

"Yeah Sakura-chan… I wonder how much money I've spent here already?" Naruto wonders, he's an Ichiraku's regular, as we all know.

Just then, Kakashi appears. "Sasuke, Sakura, Naruto. The Hokage is sending us on a mission to rescue the Hyuga Heiress. "

Team Seven, all over again.

"Hinata!?! Why? What happened???" Naruto asks, concerned for his girlfriend.

"She's been held captive by who we think might be members of the Akatsuki." Kakashi replied. His pupils are stronger now, they get high rank missions.

"That's just great. We get to finish a mission, and I get another chance to kill my brother at the same time." Sasuke replied.

"Wow. Actually enthusiastic for a mission. Has Oruchimaru been teaching him things besides jutsu? Oh, yeah, this was about killing his brother again, like I forgot." Sakura thought to herself.

"Get ready, we leave tomorrow." Kakashi said. And disappeared in a puff of smoke.

"Hinata? What the heck would your brother want with her?" Naruto worried.

"He's trying to get to you Naruto. He's using my cousin as bait." Neji Hyuga arrived.

"Wow. My brother hasn't changed at all." Sasuke said, as hate flowed through his veins again.

"That means you guys have to be more careful. Especially you Uchiha, and you Naruto." Neji continued.

"He wants the Kyuubi. They're collecting tailed-beasts. They've already got Gaara's." Naruto said.

"We can't let him do that now can we?" Sasuke smirked.

"I'm gonna kill that bastard. He's going to pay. After seven years of waiting. He .Is .Going .To .Die… and I'll be the one to kill him." Sasuke pondered in his mind.

"Bring her back alive will you? She is my cousin after-all." Neji said. They're on better terms now than they did before. They're actually like family now.

"I will, it's a promise. I haven't failed in bringing people back." Naruto says, smiling at Sasuke. Sasuke is back, after all.

"Okay. I have to go now." Neji said, and then he left. He also had a mission with his team tomorrow.

"I have to protect these two. Naruto's the obvious target, but Sasuke could get carried away by his revenge plans again. Then, we also need to save Hinata. Okay Sakura, you trained hard for three years, you will not be a burden. You can do this." Sakura thought to herself.

"Let's go home, we need to prepare for tomorrow." She said to her teammates.

"Yeah. We need to be ready." Naruto replied.

"Let's go then." Sasuke said.

Upon reaching Naruto's place… "Bye Sakura-chan. Bye Sasuke." Naruto said before entering the building.

Naruto went up and started to pack, he had to save Hinata. He loves her after all. She may be the shy type, but she's caring and hardworking, plus, she's improved a lot in being a ninja. They've been seeing each other for three month's now. That's just half of Naruto's stay since returning from training with Jiraiya.

Meanwhile, with Sasuke and Sakura…

"Just like old times, eh? Another rescue mission." Sakura said.

"Yeah. I haven't been able to go on one of those in a while." Sasuke replied.

"A-are you sure you're okay with this?" Sakura asked.

"Of course I am. It's you I'm worried about." Sasuke said.

"You don't have to worry about me anymore Sasuke-kun. But you can't blame me for worrying. It is the Akatsuki after all." She replied.

"I guess so… I think our three years of training will come in handy." He replied.

"Yeah. It probably will."

Meanwhile, Hinata was put in a cell in one of the Akatsuki's hideouts.

"I can survive this. Naruto-kun will save me. He always does. I can't lose hope now. Keep yourself together Hinata. You can do this. Show them what the Hyuga heiress can do! I'll be waiting Naruto-kun."

A cold dungeon was not the most hopeful of places, but Hinata Hyuga kind find hope in the direst of situations, especially when Naruto is in her thoughts.

::There you have it! Chapter 3… hope you stayed awake!

::PLEASE REVIEW… It really helps!

::Thanks for reading!