:Sorry it took me forever to update… the hectic schedule, writer's block and my addiction to Warcraft DotA (which I might be making a fanfic on) prevented me from updating fast… but now that school's out, I guess updates will be faster for the next couple of months…

:So… here's chapter 11… I hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 11: The Cherry Blossom Fades

Sasuke was running through the tunnels as fast as he could, the kunai with the seal still clutched tightly in his grip. With his brother lurking somewhere, there was no time to waste. Sakura could be in danger. Of all the people in the world, Sasuke knew his brother had a knack for killing the people dearest to him. He had to work fast, dodging every trap and not wasting any time with them.

He soon stood at a halt, there was a wall right in front of him, he was certain this was not there before, he had to know, since the Sharingan can memorize every single detail. A wall would be a pretty big thing to miss, wouldn't it?

"Another genjutsu… does Itachi really think I'm that stupid?" Sasuke thought.

He then activated his Sharingan, and figured out the way to break the illusion. He wouldn't be fooled that easily.

Outside the door…

"It's been pretty quiet for a while… too quiet." Kiba said.

"Yeah. I thought they'd be out of there by now… you don't think—" Ino replied.

"That Itachi might've gotten to them? Well, I'd expect so. He is an S-rank missing-nin after all." Kakashi cut off.

"W-well, I think we should just keep our hopes up." Hinata shuttered.

"Yeah! They'll get out of there! I know it!" Naruto exclaimed.

"For everyone's sake… I sure hope they are… we've been here for two days now." Ino thought.

Back in the tunnels…

"Don't worry Sakura… I'll be there… Just hang on…" Sasuke thought as he dodged another wave of kunais aimed right at him. The tunnels have gotten new traps and other illusions now that Sasuke was making his way back to the barrier. Itachi's doing, most probably.

Sasuke made the last turn, and faced the steel barrier once more. He immediately threw the kunai at it, and with a metallic "clang" the kunai hit the barrier, causing it to move out of the way quickly.

What Sasuke saw at the other side of the barrier, wasn't quite what he expected.

"SAKURA!! BE CAREFUL!" Sasuke shouted as he rushed to cover Sakura.

He was face-to-face with his brother once again, and his eyes went blood red, hatred flowing through his veins once more.

"I you hurt her… I promise you… I will not die until… I KILL YOU FIRST." Sasuke said.

"Oh, so she is your girlfriend… planning to start another Uchiha clan without me, eh?" Itachi said mockingly.

"Hn."

"Well then… here's that present I told you that I would give you earlier… maybe it'll teach you to grow stronger, faster." With that, Itachi then disappeared.

"What the –" Sasuke turned to Sakura, she was shaking.

"He's using the Mangekyo on her… oh shit." Sasuke thought. He knew what would happen next. He had to prevent it.

"NO! Snap out of it Sakura! It's all an illusion!" Sasuke grabbed her and tried to get her back to her senses.

In Sakura's thoughts…

"What is this? Where am I?" She thought, confused.

It was a strange sight. Everyone was in either black or white. "Is this a funeral?" She thought.

She then saw Hinata, Ino and Tenten crying. She sat next to them, but they didn't seem to be able to notice her presence there. She then heard Ino muttering between sobs and tears. "W-why… did they both… have to… go…" Sakura was stunned at the these words. "Who died?" She thought.

Then Tenten said: "Y-yes… and Itachi… still got away…"

"ITACHI? What does that bastard have to do with this?... NO! IT CAN'T BE--" She realized something horrible. She ran towards the two coffins, where she saw her own cadaver in one. She had no cuts, no bruises, it was like she died a peaceful death. While, on the other coffin next to it, was Sasuke's corpse. It was beaten and bruised, he came down with a fight. A big fight. She saw Naruto next to Sasuke's coffin, tears rolling down from his eyes.

"Y-you really are a bastard Uchiha… y-you just had to f-fight him alone d-didn't y-you?... Y-you just had t-to play the h-hero for S-sakura…I p-promise you… I'll k-kill him… f-for y-you and S-sakura-chan…" he uttered between sobs and tears.

"S-sasuke w-was protecting me!? I-I'm the reason he died? I was the s-stupid w-weakling again?" Sakura couldn't help but cry. She couldn't accept another person risking his life to save hers again. This time, it was Sasuke, and this time, he didn't survive.

"You truly are a weakling Sakura! Why can you never stand up for yourself! You always need someone looking out for you!... Will I ever learn?" Sakura said to herself.

And then everything went dark… Sakura could hear thousands of chirping birds, growing louder and louder… she saw an electric blue, flashing light… then she saw… Sasuke. He was moving towards another man, Itachi Uchiha. His brother. All Sakura could do was watch as the love of her life get battered and bruised, he fought with all his might, but was only able to scratch his brother.

Sakura tired to move, to help Sasuke out. But still, she could not move. She just laid there, motionless.

"ITACHI!! DIE YOU BASTARD!" Sasuke shouted as he went in for another attack.

"I don't think so, little brother." Itachi said coolly, as he hit Sasuke's chest and sent him flying into the wall. Leaving a crater.

"I will not let you kill another important person to me!" Sasuke said as he struggled to stand up.

"I already did. You see your girlfriend there with the annoyingly pink hair… she isn't coming back. And now it's time for you to join her."

Sasuke did not wait for his brother to finish talking before attacking him with another blow from his Chokuto. But this time, his attack was blocked and his brother hit him badly. Pain filled his body, and blood poured from his wounds. He was dead. His white shirt was stained thoroughly in blood. His body battered and bruised, it showed clear signs of a struggle.

"NO!! SASUKE-KUN!!" Sakura thought in her head. Blank red yes stared at her in horror. Sasuke was not able to finish his life's goal. If only she could fight. They never would've died.

Everything went black again, and Sakura fell into a spiraling pit of despair. She felt like she would never be happy again. Even worse than the emptiness she felt when Sasuke betrayed Konoha. This time, he could never come back.

Back to Sasuke…

"SAKURA!! SAKURA!! It's all an illusion! Nothing you see in there is real! WAKE-UP SAKURA!! WAKE-UP!!... please wake up… please…" Sasuke did everything he could to wake the young kunoichi up… but he did not succeed. He stared at her beautiful green eyes… but could see nothing, just eyes filled with emptiness and sorrow. And for the first time in about eight years… Sasuke had tears on his yeas once more.

His tears were tiny droplets of sorrow, but he would not let them flow for long, for now, his veins were filled with anger. To get revenge on his brother was his main goal once again. Next time, he would not let him hurt anyone close to him, ever again.

"Next time, brother… I promise you, you will die!"He said to himself.

"I look forward to it little brother." Itachi said from behind Sasuke. "Make sure you actually can kill me by that time… you don't want another little friend of yours ending up like this one do you?" He said, and he vanished.

The door separating Sasuke and Sakura from the rest of the group was finally opened. Naruto, Hinata, Kakashi, Ino and Kiba rushed into the dungeon chamber.

"What happened to Sakura?" Ino said, taking Sakura in her arms and performing some healing jutsu.

"My brother… used the Mangekyo Sharingan on her… I think he tortured her… mentally" Sasuke said, as he was wiping the tears on his face using his hand.

"He's crying…I've never seen Sasuke like this before. He really does love Sakura after all. " Ino thought.

"Lets go get back to Konoha, she'll need Tsunade-sama, and Sasuke… don't even think of going away to kill your brother in that state. You won't make it halfway to him before you collapse." Kakashi said to the group.

Sasuke took Sakura in his arms and the group made their way out of the dreaded tunnels.

:Well… that's it for now… hope it wasn't too dreadful. You guys probably know what happens next.

:Special thanks to "lovegaara4ever" for reviewing… I may not have made this chapter without the support.

:THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYONE WHO REVIEWED. Please continue. You guys rock!