A/N: The wait was longer than expected. My apologies. But hey, the chapter's longer than I'd planned it to be, too! Enjoy, and once again, reviews and crit are always welcome!

A masked nin leapt down from a lower bough, his body tensed and his head cocked. He'd been hearing a faint rustling disturbing the forest floor since he and his team had set up camp, and from the sounds of it, it was increasing in speed and proximity. He lifted the mask to reveal his pallid white eyes, the skin around them crinkled, his veins bulging.

Hyuuga Neji smirked as his eyes revealed the oncoming rustling: Uchiha Sasuke.

He remembered the words of a certain loudmouthed ninja he'd run into the afternoon before he'd left for his mission, his hopes high as the target of his Byakugan grew steadily closer.

"If you happen to run into that stupid bastard, tell him Naruto says hello."

Neji's smirk widened. He'd give Uchiha Sasuke a proper greeting for him.

He knew that it was somewhat childish, and considering the Uchiha's prominent skill, setting a trap would probably be for naught. But in the long run, perhaps it was well worth a try.

Seeing as the raven haired man was still a safe distance away, Neji set to work. He gathered chakra into his fingertips in the form of sharp blades, easily digging about six feet deep holes into the soil a couple of meters away from one another. He meticulously gathered fallen branches and leaves, throwing the debris on the holes to properly hide them. Neji also embedded a couple of kunai around their circumferences for good measure, at the very top of the opening with their sharp ends facing outward.

When Sasuke was just close enough for his familiar chakra signature to be physically identified, the Hyuuga masked his, darting up into a tree in order to get a better view. Neji slid his mask into place, gripping the branch above him so that he could easily push off and give him a warm welcome.

The man in question ran right under him, and to Neji's utter surprise – and to his delight – he stepped onto a frail branch covering one of the traps and fell right through with a grunt.

Chuckling under his breath, Neji dropped down from his perch and approached the caved-in trap, reaching in and grasping the Uchiha heir by the front of his shirt, pulling him upwards.

"Long time no see," he greeted him none too warmly.

Sasuke glared at the masked nin, recognizing his voice instantly. "Hyuuga Neji," he deadpanned, narrowing his eyes.

"Yes," Neji confirmed, lifting his mask with his free hand. "Uchiha Sasuke, this is a message from Naruto."

Sasuke's eyes widened, his entire body rigid.

Neji paused, barely containing the grin that tugged at his lips. Cocking his fist back, he punched the Uchiha square in the nose and dropped him, letting him fall back through the hole in the ground.

He backed away leisurely, darting for the trees. Now that he had had his fun, he could initiate his original plans. His team was waiting on dinner.

--

Sakura heaved a sigh as she took in Sasuke's condition. Although she'd without hesitation give brownie points to whoever had managed to put him in it, her inner medic couldn't help but radiate some compassion.

"Alright, you idiot, lie down on the bed."

Sasuke eyed her critically before heaving his own sigh. He did as he was told, divesting of all his clothes except his boxers.

The medic walked into his bathroom to collect a few facecloths and a basin full of warm water. She returned to the bedroom, kneeling beside him. He watched her as she quietly cleaned his wounds and checked for poison, gathering chakra to both hands in order to heal him. The pink-haired medic was only grateful that his wounds weren't too bad, because she'd depleted her chakra considerably the day before and hadn't gotten enough rest to properly restore it.

She leaned back against the headboard when she finished, gazing at him wearily. "Do you have extra sheets?"

He sat up, inspecting her handiwork. "Bottom shelf," he replied before carefully standing up, walking stiffly towards the bathroom.

Sakura sighed, feeling her eyelids drooping. She quickly changed the sheets, leaving the dirty ones crumpled at the foot of the bed. She climbed into bed afterwards, curling up and closing her eyes.

By the time the shower had stopped and Sasuke'd walked back into the room, the other side of the bed sinking slightly as he laid down beside her, she was fast asleep.

--

Tsunade lifted her eyes from the paperwork in front of her, sensing someone's presence at the door before they could knock to announce themselves. "Come in," she sighed. Even though she'd stared at the documents with as much contempt as she could muster, it still wouldn't do themselves or burst into flames. She was hoping that it would've been the latter.

The door opened to reveal Hatake Kakashi. "Good morning, Hokage-sama," he greeted with a wave of his fingers. "Reporting the Anbu team's arrival, as per request. They are unscathed, however…"

Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "However?"

Kakashi hesitated, his one-eyed gaze directed elsewhere. "They might not be your first visitors this morning," he explained, albeit vaguely. Before she could interject, he went on, "Orochimaru was found on the outskirts of Konoha; he is currently being escorted by our strongest ninja. He is being directed to you now and he will not be permitted to make any pit stops."

Tsunade shot him a wary look. "Kakashi, I want you to return to them immediately. See to it that that is done, with no slip-ups."

"Yes, Hokage-sama," he murmured with a nod, teleporting from the room.

Tsunade clasped her hands together tightly, gritting her teeth. What could that pasty faced bastard want now? She eyed her paperwork before pushing it aside. She had a feeling that she wouldn't be able to concentrate on them fully until Orochimaru personally explained why the hell he was in Konoha, and what his intentions were.

It took only a few more moments before the door swung open, and by then she was already on edge. The pale sannin strode casually into the room, grinning his snakelike grin as he approached her workplace. Tsunade glared at him. With her gaze still locked on the sannin, she shooed the Anbu away.

"What are you doing here, Orochimaru?" she demanded.

"Isn't it obvious?" he chuckled. "Visiting an old friend."

She snorted, keeping her eyes on his. "I'm afraid Jiraiya is unavailable at the moment," she replied snidely. She leaned back into her chair, gripping the edge of her desk so hard that it threatened to snap off. "Tell me the real reason why you're here."

He cocked his head, gracefully dropping into the chair in front of her. "Oh, but it is."

Tsunade stood. "I have a dead on diagnosis for you, Orochimaru, and I'm afraid it's denial. We were never friends, and we never will be. I've heard of your schemes of making nice with the other villages, but I can assure you that I will not be as naïve as they. Where is Sakura?"

Orochimaru grinned. "She has been very helpful. So much, in fact, that we might require her aid a bit longer." He patted her desk. "Now, would you sit down? You're making me uncomfortable."

The blonde woman gave him a withering look, remaining where she stood. "I will not be able to extend the appeal without consulting with the council members, and without sufficient information. I demand that she be sent back immediately until we have come to an agreement."

"The council members?" he inquired curiously. "She is not on an assassination mission, Tsunade, she's merely assisting our medics."

"At this point, I don't care what kind of mission it is. I don't trust you, nor will I ever. This may be a time of peace, but it is peace that draws a curtain of ignorance over the eyes of many." The Hokage clenched her fists.

He sighed dramatically. "As you wish," he said with a pleasant smile.

Tsunade shuddered, because a smile on a snake's countenance was anything but pleasant. "If you wish, you may remain in Konoha until the meeting is adjourned. But you will be under constant surveillance, and I will personally send you home if need be. If the council agrees, Sakura will remain in Sound. And if not, I expect her in Konoha by tomorrow evening or I'll have your head."

He gave her another one of his pleasant grins. "Understood, Tsunade-sama. But I only hope that you realize how generously I will reward your medic once she is through with her duties in Sound," he murmured, producing a scroll from his sleeve.

She took it from him and unrolled it, her eyes scanning the scroll until she came to a rather large number. She looked at him, snapping it shut. "No matter how generous you may seem in paying her this, you will not be able to give her what she truly desires," she told him softly.

He tilted his head. "And what is that?" he asked rhetorically, chuckling.

The sannin already knew.

--

Naruto glanced up at the Hokage's headquarters, concern etched into his features. By now, almost everyone knew of Orochimaru's presence in Konoha. However, it didn't worry him as much as Sakura's safety.

He wheeled around only to come face to face with an unmasked Hyuuga Neji. He greeted him with a grin. "Not a scratch on you! All is well, I hope?"

Neji smirked a little. "All is well."

Naruto's grin dissolved slightly. "And did you happen to run into Sasuke?"

The Hyuuga's smirk widened considerably. "Yes," he replied, glancing up towards the Hokage Tower. "I gave him a warm hello for you."

Naruto laughed, completely oblivious to Neji's smug grin – they were similar to all his other grins, after all. He slapped him on the back before walking in the direction of Ichiraku. "Thanks, Neji!"

--

Sakura awakened, blinking the sleep from her eyes. She squinted across from her, her heart nearly leaping out of her chest when she found that Sasuke was beside her – wide awake, in fact – and staring straight into her face. "Sasuke…" she whispered softly, confusion etched into her features.

He merely continued to gaze at her, his eyes narrowed.

"Your wounds, are they–"

He sat up with a start. "Fight me."

Her eyes widened. "Wh–What?"

"You've grown stronger," he told her, his eyes searching hers. "Fight me. I want to see for myself."

She watched him with her upper body propped up on her elbows as he got up from the bed. His eyes were still fixed on her. "I wouldn't recommend strenuous activity, Sasuke. Your wounds are still in the process of…"

"Meet me on the rooftop," he told her before making his way down the hall.

Sakura listened as his apartment door opened and closed. She closed her eyes and let out an exasperated moan, rubbing her hands over her face.

She really hated rooftops.

Sakura got out of bed with some difficulty, worrying her bottom lip. She numbly walked down the hall and out the apartment door, her senses barely registering the cold tile floor. Her heart was pounding as she began her trek up the five flights of stairs to the rooftop, flinching when she saw him in the doorway with his arms crossed.

He pushed the door open and strode out, expecting her to follow.

Sakura couldn't help but tremble. She followed after him, albeit slowly, glancing up at the sky. The horizon was a majestic blue, but the firmament above it was still cloaked in night, waiting for the sun's rays to touch them. Sakura shivered. The air was still damp with condensation.

She set her sights on Sasuke, gasping when his eyes became crimson red. "Sasuke, please…"

He gestured for her to come. "Attack me," he told her. "Don't hold back."

Sakura bit her lower lip, taking in her surroundings. Metal and concrete, both of which she could easily destroy with a touch of a finger. "I don't think…"

The pink-haired kunoichi gasped as Sasuke materialized in front of her, his fist coming in contact with her cheek. Sakura flew back a couple of feet and onto the ground, spitting out blood. She was certain that he'd loosened a couple of her teeth. The kunoichi could only watch as he attacked her again, this time landing a punch to her gut. She doubled over on the ground, gasping for breath and clutching her stomach.

"Defend yourself!" he bellowed.

The next attack didn't come. He stood in front of her, his eyes returning to their normal color. She gazed up at him, gingerly touching her hand to her cheek to heal the fractured cheekbone and her bloodied gums.

Sasuke knelt down beside her and touched her newly healed cheek, his hand lingering there before he took her by the wrist, dragging her towards the exit and down several flights of stairs, and out of the apartment building. They must've been a sight for sore eyes, he still in his boxers, she wearing a long shirt that was doing an excellent job concealing the small shorts that she wore underneath.

They walked past street vendors and buildings, kicking up the dirt with their bare feet. Sakura was silent as they entered the vicinity of a park, the dirt replaced with soft grass that tickled her feet and ankles. He took her to a clearing that overlooked the outskirts of Sound. The grass was long and untamed, some of the green blades reaching the height of Sakura's shoulders.

He released her wrist and walked a couple of feet forward, and when he turned around to face her, his eyes were red again. "Will you fight me now, Sakura?" he deadpanned.

Sakura gathered a considerable amount of chakra to her hand before kneeling onto the ground, punching the hard soil. The ground rumbled underneath her before it started to fissure, the breach widening as it expanded lengthwise towards the waiting Uchiha.

His eyes widened when an explosion of soil and rock blew up in his face. He ran at her, observing as she gathered chakra to her hands. He threw a punch to her face, which she barely deflected. The pink-haired kunoichi grasped his right shoulder, undoing the muscles there with her chakra. He gritted his teeth, disappearing and then materializing behind her, his knee slamming into the small of her back.

Sakura gasped as the force of his blow dropped her onto her knees. She knew that he was trying to push her to the edge – harming her enough that she'd eventually need to fight back.

His foot dug into her back, forcing her to stay on the ground. "This isn't your full strength," he said brusquely.

She groaned under his weight. "Sound can't afford my full strength," she grunted.

Apparently mollified by this, he released her. He grabbed her and pulled her to her feet, not bothering to support her as she teetered and swayed.

Angered and confused, Sakura watched his retreating back. She gritted her teeth as she forced even more chakra into her fist, pummeling the earth. A geyser of soil and sediment shot out underneath the Uchiha, making him fly backward, his pale body dropping amidst the tall grass. She watched him regain his footing with a racing heart, rendered frozen as he turned around to face her.

Sasuke was not happy.

He materialized in front of her, faster than she's ever seen him. He'd appeared so quickly that all the dirt and particles on his skin seemed to try to cling along for the ride, only to fall in a dusty mist a few feet behind him. Sasuke wrapped his fingers around the front of her neck, his red eyes burning into her mind. Her face became red as her lungs burned for air, and for a few futile seconds, she struggled against him, kicking at his shins and punching his chest.

Black dots clouded Sakura's vision, and the moment he realized what he was doing, Sasuke released his hold on her, letting her thin form fall and crumple into a heap on the cold ground.

She watched him through slotted eyes, her hands over her bruising throat as she coughed and gasped for air. He looked at her and sighed, kneeling before her. She tensed as he wrapped an arm around her waist in a surprisingly gentle manner, her hands coming to grip at his shoulders as he lifted her.

Sakura faded in and out of consciousness as he carried her across the village, finally snapping awake when he entered his apartment building and opened his door. Sasuke walked into the bathroom, his grip on her tightening as he leaned forward into the bathtub to turn on the water.

The kunoichi watched him curiously as he climbed into the tub with her, lowering her to the cold tile floor. Sakura flinched as he knelt down in front of her, a halfhearted cry tearing from her lips as he tugged her soiled shirt over her head. Sakura shivered under the spray of the water, wrapping her arms around her front.

His face was devoid of all emotion as he tugged her shorts down, leaving her naked aside from her underwear. Sakura's eyes followed him as he stepped out of the tub, closing the bathroom door behind him.

Sakura huddled under the spray, bereft. She was too tired to cry.

--

When she'd finally gathered enough strength to drag herself out of the shower, she walked into the Uchiha's bedroom, her legs wobbly. Sakura healed herself quickly before putting on a change of clothes. She tensed when his apartment door opened to reveal a solemn Sasuke, his arms filled with paper grocery bags.

"Do you want lunch? I did the groceries."

Sakura just looked at him. She supposed that that was the closest thing to an apology she'd ever get from the Uchiha.

They walked into the kitchen in silence, Sasuke bringing out his cooking ware while Sakura emptied out the grocery bags. She chopped vegetables while he washed and cleaned slivers of pork tenderloin. He immersed the meat into an egg wash before breading them and frying them in a wok. The pink-haired woman prepared curry on the stovetop beside his, mixing the contents of a packet with broth and water and adding in the cut vegetables.

"Where's your rice?" she whispered hoarsely.

Sasuke was washing his hands at the faucet. He turned to face her as he wiped his fingers on a white cloth that dangled from the faucet head. "I'll make it," he replied quietly. He closed the gap between them, his hand lightly touching her neck. "Your throat…"

"I healed it," she said abruptly, averting her eyes.

They waited on the rice in silence, sipping red wine while they set the counter with mismatched plates and worn chopsticks.

They'd eaten their fill and finished more than half of the bottle of wine when Sasuke had cupped her cheeks into his hands and kissed her. Sakura's eyes widened in shock. He coaxed her with soft, slow tap kisses, one arm wrapping around her waist while the other hand remained on her face, the calloused pad of his thumb trailing down her cheek.

Sakura clumsily wrapped both arms around his neck, reciprocating. Their lips met slowly and mindlessly, the wine making their skin warm and their eyes glazed. The kunoichi gasped against his mouth as he ran his hands through her hair, his blunt fingernails scraping gently against her scalp and sending shivers down her spine. Her hands found themselves underneath the front of his shirt, tracing the twitching muscles on his abdomen with her warm fingers.

It was only until his hand found itself between her thighs did her thoughts begin to stir.

"Sasuke, no…" Sakura whimpered. His lips were making a warm trail down the side of her neck, and she couldn't help but tilt her head to allow him further access.

Her inebriated mind was whirling. She pushed him away, her eyes glazed and her mouth swollen and pink. He looked at her with such intensity that she had to avert her gaze for a moment.

"Sasuke, this… This isn't what I signed up for."

And then she pushed off of the counter and darted for the door.