Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto! Only the parts that I'm adapting into the original story line.

Fated Encounter

CHAPTER 13

Sasuke's body was on high alert. He was aware that Sai was just behind his door. He recognized his chakra easily and the tiny noises the other guy did also indicated that he was behind the door.

It was ease as breathing to keep his body relaxed to avoid the Konoha shinobi noticing that he was spotted. The door didn't creak much as Sai carefully opened it and then something came in. Sasuke recognized the familiar hissing and quiet moving of snakes on the floor.

Keeping himself calm, Sasuke waited. As the snakes rolled closer to the bed Sasuke finally opened his eyes. Sakura was still sound asleep in front of him as he laid his back towards the door. His body was entirely covering Sakura's, since she was lying on her stomach with her face facing Sasuke. Her whole body was relaxed her no sign of stress anywhere. She hadn't noticed Sai's presence yet.

As the snakes reached for the bed and began crawling up towards it Sasuke decided to speak up, "Who's there?"

"You heard me?" Sai seemed surprised, but not too much, "Too late though, I still have advantage."

"What do you want?" Had he noticed Sakura? Was he here to find her and kill her?

"I came here to kill you on Danzo-sama's orders."

The three snakes swayed from side to side.

"But now I'm here to bring you back to Konoha."

Sasuke couldn't help the flashback of Naruto. He still wanted to take Sasuke back to Konoha. Sai must have met with Naruto at some point because if his original mission was to kill him, then the only person to be able to change someone's way of thinking was Naruto. He had done it so many times before. Almost every single enemy they had met, he had somehow changed their opinions and belief.

It was almost unreal.

But the biggest relief to Sasuke was that this guy wasn't after Sakura. The Konoha's Council didn't have any idea where she was currently and he needed to make sure that nothing changed that.

"I want to protect the bond of friendship Naruto is so hard striving to keep." Sai continued and confirmed Sasuke's suspicion of the blond idiot being back in the picture. It's been three years since they saw each other. Such a long time. But apparently, nothing had changed about Naruto.

"Bonds?" Sasuke asked back with almost humor in his tone. He wasn't interested in any bonds with Naruto. "You dared to disturb my sleep for that?"

The door had creaked more open and Sasuke felt his fury increase as he gazed at Sakura. He was finally having her sleeping properly and eat a little more, and now this dumbass came around disturbing them both. Just that thought made Sasuke want to kill Sai.

Honestly, he wasn't interested in killing anyone else except Itachi. But this time he might make a difference.

Activating his sharingan was easy and Sasuke didn't miss the small falter in Sai's composure. Unfortunately, the shinobi picked himself up quickly and made a hand sign to command the snakes. All three wrapped around Sasuke's body tightly, luckily ignoring Sakura's body. As the snakes wrapped themselves around him, Sasuke's eyes never left Sakura's.

Her brows were furrowing from the light coming through the doorway and she finally opened her eyes.

All this happened in mere seconds as Sasuke trapped her in his genjutsu once again, and let his powers loose.

The explosion was fast and powerful. The snakes were burned to death as Sasuke reached over to Sakura's body and used his chakra to transform her appearance. He couldn't trust the smoke enough to cover them fully while he summoned Garuda. The eagle filled the space in front of him and he easily threw Sakura's motionless body at him. It easily did what was told and with a flap of his wings he lifted off the ground and grabbed Sakura mid-air.

In few seconds its powerful wings were taking it up in air and away from the hideout. At that point, all Sasuke could do was to wish that no one would follow the eagle. Also, he hoped that Sakura stayed unconscious until Garuda had landed her to safety.

Then Sasuke jumped out of the crater he created and landed on the cliff. Everything in over thirty feet radius was destroyed.

As the smoke disappeared into air, Sai was left on the bottom of the crater on his hands and knees.

With strain, he started to stand up.

"Very impressive. It takes a lot of force to brake my jutsu." Sai mused out loud.

Did the guy think he was weak?

A loud banging of footsteps echoed from the hallway to the right of Sasuke. Naruto's familiar blond hair and orange colored clothing emerged from the dark hallway. He didn't seem to notice Sasuke right away.

Naruto was glaring at Sai as he stopped next to him, but then the blond took notice of where Sai was looking up. His body froze entirely as he turned around to face Sasuke.

For the first time, Naruto was surprised to silence. His mouth hang slightly open as he plain stared at Sasuke. Them both had changed quite a bit. Both were taller and much more masculine than before. And both had different clothing. Three years was a long time for a teenager to grow, especially if you were a boy.

"Naruto?" Sasuke acknowledges. "You're here, too? Then I guess Kakashi and Sakura must be here also."

The sadness that flashes in Naruto's eyes when he mentions Sakura is fast but Sasuke took note of it. Better play it so that no one figures that she's with him. She didn't want to return to Konoha and he was going to make sure that he wished stayed that way.

An unfamiliar man walks to the sunlight from the hallway. Brown hair and dark eyes held no emotion as he takes his place next to Naruto.

"Sorry, I'm not Kakashi-san, but I'm his replacement. We're the new team Kakashi and here to bring you back to Konoha." The unfamiliar man says and shrugs his shoulders.

Team Kakashi? Sasuke thought to himself.

Then what happened to Kakashi? Team 7 seems to be in shreds. Both Sakura and him on the run, and Kakashi somewhere unknown. The only original doing anything was Naruto alone. How did he have the energy? Why come here and bring him back to Konoha?

He could start looking for Sakura, too, but apparently, no.

Sifting his eyes back to Sai, "Then he must be my replacement. Another useless person to try and drag me back. He did talk about wanting to protect my 'bond' with you Naruto."

Naruto's head turned to Sai.

"Weren't you here to kill him?" He asks.

Sai pulls out the small sword on his back and points it at Sasuke. Naruto's body tenses again as if he is ready to bounce in the other guy any minute. Very typical for Naruto. Drama always follows him around.

"Yes, my secret mission at first was to kill Uchiha Sasuke, but I don't care about that mission anymore. I will do whatever I want from now on. Feelings, I had forgotten a long time ago, are coming back to me thanks to Naruto." The dark-haired teenager explained calmly. "I think they must have been important."

Sasuke lowered his for a moment.

Feelings? The guy wanted to protect Naruto's bonds because of his feelings?

"I don't know you at all, but Naruto doesn't want to take you back for no apparent reason. He does everything to stop you and to protect the bond between you two. I'm not yet sure what it is about, but," he stared intently at Sasuke, "you should know about it."

Sasuke took a small pause. The three of them seemed very serious.

"Oh, I do. That's why I already severed that bond." He didn't want to go back to Konoha. All of that was in his way of finding Itachi. The years he spent there got him nowhere. Now, after following Orochimaru, he was much closer to finding Itachi.

"I only have one bond and that is the hatred between me and my brother, Itachi." Sasuke could easily remember his brother's words for him. The way he mocked his power by saying that he wasn't strong enough. The way he said that Sasuke's hatred wasn't grate enough to defeat him.

"Different bonds just make us lose focus on what's important." Just like his bond with Sakura. He was constantly watching and worrying over her. She wasn't taking care of herself properly and he had to barge in to make sure that the girl didn't die of hunger.

Naruto's fingers balled into fists. He looked sad and angry at the same time as he looked down at the broken ground.

"Why," Naruto started and took a deep breath. Lifting his head to glare at Sasuke, "Why didn't you kill me back then?! Do you really think our bond broke that day!" He shouted as loudly as he could.

"It's simple. It's not about just braking the bond. I just didn't want to become stronger the way that bastard wanted me to." Sasuke said. He didn't want to do what Itachi told him to do. He wanted to get stronger on his own. And killing his closest friend to acquire Mangekyō Sharingan didn't appeal to him.

Naruto's brows furrowed in confusion, "What do you mean?"

"There's no need to clarify. I'll I can say is that I left you alive that day on a whim." But maybe today is a whole different day.

No one was able to react to Sasuke's speed as he flashed right in front of Naruto. His arm landed on Naruto's shoulder as he leaned closer on the other side. Both Sai and the team leader were startled with the speed. Even Naruto froze.

"You dreamed of becoming a Hokage, right Naruto?" Sasuke drawled out and moved his right arm to grab the hilt of kusanagi, "You should have stayed and continued to train, instead of coming after me. Because of that, I think I'll actually kill you on a similar whim like back then."

Kusanagi slid from the holster silently and smoothly as Sasuke stretched his right arm to the side. The weight of the weapon in his hands was familiar and readied him for a fight.

"Someone who is not able to even safe one friend, is not qualified to become the Hokage. Right, Sasuke?" Naruto said with the most leveled tone Sasuke might have ever heard from him. Naruto clearly had grown up. But he had to finish this thing quickly. He had other places to be rather than stay here with these people.

Slashing his sword towards Naruto's hard Sasuke was ready to deliver the deathly blow until Sai's body stepped in between the blade and Naruto. His hand wrapped around Sasuke's wrist.

"You blocked it the right way." Sasuke said to the other guy which surprised him. At that moment, Naruto made his move as he as he moved his body upwards so that their leader could attack him. They were holding both of Sasuke's hands while their leader made hand signs. From the corner of his eye Sasuke took in the wood pillar stretching from the man's hand towards him.

He had no other option except use his lightning. Activating his sharingan Sasuke used his chakra to surround his body, "Chidori nagashi!" Lightning burst from his body pushing Naruto and Sai away from him, along with the wood technique used by the older man.

Naruto and Sai hit the ground hard convulsing from the electric shock their bodies received.

The leader came for him next with with kunais in his hands, but Sasuke's kusanagi was stronger. It sliced through the kunais and even though the man tried to block, Sasuke's kusanagi went through his shoulder like butter. Blood spilled from the wound as Sasuke continued his momentum to push the man against a boulder. Sasuke wanted to smirk at the stupidity of the leader.

"Kusanagi is special. No one can block it." The blade continued to use lightening even when out of Sasuke's hand to immobilize the victim.

A spark of chakra made Sasuke turn his attention back to Naruto. He was on his hands and knees shaking, while his finger nails had grown and eyes had turned red. That was Naruto's power. Using his sharingan, Sasuke made his way into the seal that kept the Nine-Tailed Beast locked inside Naruto's body. A large orange bubbling creature greeted him as Sasuke appeared right in front of the creature.

"You're from the Uchiha clan." The creature bellowed.

Naruto was startled, "What are you doing here?"

"So this is where you get your powers." Sasuke stated. "I never would have thought something like this resided inside of you, Naruto."

"You can see me because of that cursed linage of yours."

"So you've seen these eyes before. Are you the Nine-Tailed Beast?"

"Your chakra is much darker than mine." The beast bellowed again, ignoring Sasuke's question. "You remind me of Uchiha Madara."

Sasuke grabbed the bubbling creatures nose and it exploded completely.

"I've never heard about any one with that name." Sasuke said. Uchiha Madara was unknown to him. He had never heard the name in his life.

"So you can control me... We might not meet again, so I'll say this now. Don't-... kill-... Naruto-... You'll regret it."

The scene unfolded and they were back at the crater. Naruto was still on his knees and Sasuke's blade embedded into the leader's shoulder. Suddenly the man made a hand sign and a wooden pole erupted from the wound, pushing the blade out. Sasuke was taken by surprise as the momentum pushed him backwards. As he tried backing away more wood appeared from underground and created a cocoon around him.

Quickly he used his kusanagi to break through the jutsu's roof and he jumped back on the cliff.

Naruto was already back on his feet.

"Don't you understand Sasuke that Orochimaru only wants your body!" Naruto shouted angry. The whole situation angered him since it seemed to him like Sasuke didn't care about his own life.

"Hn, you're naive Naruto." Sasuke said. "I'm tired of you already. It's time for you to disappear." Sasuke made his hand signs. He was going to make this quick and rid of these bunch.

"Sakura is missing! She's probably dead already! Don't you care at all!" Naruto shouted again. Unfortunately for Naruto, Sasuke knew where Sakura was and that she was alive and well. As if he would let anything happen to her.

Raising his hand in the air and taking control of his chakra, Sasuke was ready to use his technique. But he wasn't able to fully take control before Orochimaru appeared. His hand was wrapped around Sasuke's wrist and he couldn't help but get annoyed. To be touched by so many people in one day was frustrating. Didn't they know he liked his space?

"Don't use that technique, Sasuke-kun." The Snake Sannin said.

"Let go." Sasuke grounded out.

"Why are you always so disrespectful towards Orochimaru-sama." Kabuto scolded him again.

"Konoha shinobi are very useful for us. Akatsuki are a threat that needs to be eliminated and they can wipe it out. If the other members of Akatsuki come in your way, your revenge will become much harder to achieve." Orochimaru explained. He was grinning with that sly look on his face.

"Pathetic," Sasuke mumbled.

Orochimaru finally let go of Sasuke wrist and he lowered his arm. With Orochimaru's chakra surrounding them, he teleported them away, but not before saying, "Now we just need to get our little flower."

The last thing that Sasuke saw was Naruto brows lowering in confusion.

Sasuke was filled with annoyance and frustration. They had transferred to the Eastern hideout that was similar with the one Sasuke had destroyed only few hours ago. The only difference with these two hideouts was that the waterfall was much closer to the Kusagakure's hideout.

Since he didn't know where they were bound to locate next, if that was to happen, Sasuke had no other option except made Garuda take Sakura there. With a cloak covering him Sasuke ran through the forest as quickly as his legs were able to.

If Sakura was smart, she would have stayed in that cave under the waterfall. Unfortunately, he couldn't risk using Garuda right now, because it might attract too much attention. The summon had disappeared right after it had dropped Sakura in to the cave. From there on out everything was in Sakura's hands. She might have woken from his genjutsu even during the flight, but he doubted that.

He just wished she had stayed put.

It wasn't that long journey. Only a day worth of travel with Sasuke's speed. The day was already turning dark by the time he neared Kusagakure. His body was exhausted from the tension of the day and the stress.

He couldn't sense Sakura anywhere even though he closed in on the cave. Jumping from the cliff and down into the rock below, Sasuke maneuvered his body as close to the entrance as possible. His senses were covered by the loud roar of the waterfall as he strode up on the rocks and behind the water. Everything was in place outside and Sasuke walked through the curtain.

A small body was slumped under the blankets on the furthest corner of the room, on the platform.

Sakura's back was facing him and as he neared her she made no move to acknowledge him. Placing on foot on the platform to reach better, Sasuke leaned over Sakura to look at her face. Her eyes were closed and she was still deeply asleep. She looked like she hadn't woken up at all.

Sighing Sasuke sat down on the edge of the stone slab.

He felt conflicted.

Just this morning he had talked about severing all his ties with everyone close to him, and now he ran for a whole day to get back to one bond. He was literally a hypocrite. Saying different things than what his actions show.

He couldn't severe his bond with Sakura.

That would mean very likely death for her, but what it would mean to him? She would die if he dumped her like garbage, but he would continue his journey to kill Itachi. He would literally lose nothing, if he just got up and left her here alone.

She wouldn't probably even know that he came to see her.

He looked up at the doorway. He could just leave. No, he should leave.

Bonds were a distraction that mislead you away from your original goal. That's all they are. Useless things that only hinder your progress.

Slight ruffling came from behind Sasuke, but he didn't turn around.

"Sasuke?" Sakura's sleepy voice crooned.

He glanced behind to see her rubbing her eyes like a child. Sasuke had to bite his cheek not to smile.

"Get back to sleep."

"That's all you tell me to do." She mumbled back with her eyes closed. Her body was now facing upwards and her head lulled to the side.

Grabbing the button that kept his cloak together, Sasuke opened it and threw the thing aside. Pushing off his shoes, he grabbed the edge of the blankets that were already over Sakura and slipped under them.

Sakura didn't fight or say anything at all as Sasuke pulled her tiny body towards him. She was already unconscious her body just as slack as normally. And she seemed to fit perfectly next to him.

Moving closer to Sakura seemed much easier than the mere idea of leaving her.

I would have liked to make this longer, but I don't think then I would have been able to post this today. I hope you guys liked this!

It took quite a while to incorporate the "meeting" scene into a written version. Next chapter will be completely mine and will not have any scenes from Naruto. :)

Thanks for reviewers:

Lady Rini

Emily da great

ILoveSxS

Sakurabeam

Guest

guest

I will probably post His Possession next week and not this. But we'll see if I'm actually able to post both again. I'll start writing His Possession's chapter 20 right away.

- Jakura