Naruto stared at where he knew the fire was, Sasuke sat across from him, his numb body retaining the ability to feel warmth.

"So Sasuke...how have things been?"

Sasuke ignored him.

"Well...I'm gonna be awake all night...so whenever you feel like talking...just go ahead."

Sasuke felt a relentless rage towards Naruto.

'Why the hell are you still nice to me! Our bonds were severed long ago...quit treating me as a friend!'

Sasuke knew the only way to get Naruto mad at him, but he had no desire to be cruel. He had beat Naruto fair and square, now they could go their seperate ways.

"It's so great to have you back Sasuke!"

'That tears it!'

Sasuke smiled.

"So Naruto...how is Sakura doing? I'm sure she must constantly beg you to bring me back...right?"

Naruto blindly poked a stick through the fire, spraying sparks into Sasuke's face.

Sasuke shook his head, but could not move his frozen body, the sparks fell onto his face.

"OW! What the hell!"

"Sorry Sasuke...can't see remember?" Naruto smirked.

Sasuke closed his eyes and reopened them, a new plan had formed in his brain.

"Oh yeah, sorry I forgot...but anyway it sure is nice to have a woman like her, completley loyal, faithful, beautiful..."

Naruto kicked the fire, sending a hail of sparks into Sasuke's face. These succeded in burning him.

Sasuke's pained screams echoed through the forest.

A wolf howled in response to Sasuke's yell, Naruto laughed.

"Oh, I'm so sorry Sasuke..." Naruto couldn't hid his anger, and his voice echoed with resentment.

Sasuke didn't respond.

Naruto laughed one more time, and then fell asleep.

Back at the village, Sakura was eating with Ino, Chouji, and Shikamaru. She had a lot on her mind, it had been nearly a week since she had returned from a mission, only to find out Naruto had gone after Sasuke with Lee's team.

"Sakura are you gonna eat that?"

"Don't be rude Chouji!"

"Calm down Ino...he was just asking."

"Shut up Shikamaru, she's obviously in a bad mood!"

"Troublesome..."

Sakura ignored her friends, her mind began to wander.

'I'm starting to lose faith in Naruto...Sasuke's so powerful now, I don't think we'll ever get him back...but still, how could he go after him without me or Kakashi!'

She found herself staring at the food in front of her, and Chouji's arm slowly reaching for it. Her eyes lit up, and she laughed.

"Chouji?" Chouji looked up at Sakura, fear in his eyes. She smiled at him, "You can have it."

Chouji nodded and pulled the plate to his side of the table.

"Thanks Sakura..." He shoved the food into his face, devouring it in seconds, "You're the best."

Sakura smiled at her friend and nodded.

"Hey Sakura...how...how are you doing?" Ino asked Sakura and placed her hand on her shoulder. "I mean...are you okay?"

Sakura looked down into her lap, she held Naruto's fore-head protector in her hands. She remembered returning home from her mission.

"NARUTO!" Sakura knocked on Naruto's door, it opened slowly, "Naruto what did I tell you about leaving your door un..."

Sakura walked in to his appartment, it was clean and empy.

"Naruto, why is you room so..." She stopped speaking as she walked into his open bedroom, the bed was made and the floor was clean.

Sakura knew that Naruto only cleaned when he planned on leaving for a long time, and rage filled her head.

"How the hell could you go on another training mission without telling me!" She stopped speaking yet again when she noticed his headband lying on his desk, with a note underneath it.

She hesitated, but eventually found the courage to read the note.

'Hey Sakura,

This is kinda wierd, seeing as I can't really explain well what I mean in a note...I've never been a very good writer! But anyway, I know you're gonna be mad, but I couldn't tell you since you were on a mission, which is why I left the note! Granny Tsunade said that she found the location of Madara and Sasuke...she kinda sent us out to get them. Us being me and bushy brow's team. I really am sorry, and I know that you're worried. So I left my headband with you...that way you'll know that I have to come back to get it. Don't worry Sakura, everything will be fine...I have a feeling that this'll be the time I bring him back, my promise is about to be fulfilled!

Anyway,

Naruto.

P.S. I'm sorry you can't come with us...but I like it better this way, because this way, I know you're safe!'

Sakura sat down on Naruto's bed, and re-read the paper over and over again, praying that it was a joke. As her tears soaked the paper, she remembered Naruto's forehead protector, and picked it up. Holding it gave her a strange comfort, and her fears were somewhat weakened. She stood up, her faith in Naruto restored, and left his home with the headband in her hands.

"Yeah Ino...I'm okay." Sakura smiled, and she felt the warmth of Naruto's smile within her own.

Naruto opened his eyes, and a blinding light burned in his vision. He quickly shut his eyes, and covered his face with his sage cloak. Once he was saftley in the darkness, he opened his eyes again, and he clearly saw the deep red of his cloak. He slowly pulled the cloak away, and his eyes adjusted to the bright sun, his vision had returned.

Naruto looked over to Sasuke, who was still laying on the ground.

"Sasuke, I can see again!" Sasuke simply stared at Naruto, then smirked.

"Well that makes it slightly harder to escape...I may end up having to kill you after all."

Naruto was caught off guard by Sasuke's comment, but after several seconds he smiled.

"Don't worry Sasuke, I promised to bring you back to the village, and I will...even if I have to beat the shit out of you."

Sasuke groaned.

"Will you atleast help me up?"

Naruto walked over to Sasuke and pushed him up into a seated position, then sat behind him, so he could lean on his back.

"We're gonna have to head out soon."

Sasuke nodded.

"Sasuke?"

"Hmn?"

"If you talk about Sakura again...I'll make you wish you were dead."

Naruto stood up, and Sasuke fell flat on his back.

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