A/N: Soz for the delay on bringing this part out. I was…working out the scenes in my head. I have a mental outline of what I'm planning but sometimes the filler dialogues slow me down. Well enjoy.

"What do you mean he was just sitting there?"

"Just that, he was just sitting there." Kiba scratched his head, avoiding Akamaru calmly lying on top of his hood.

"That makes no sense." Shikamaru sighed, crossing his arms as he closed his eyes, recalling the instant. Naruto and he had been searching for Sakura for some time. Shikamaru had been annoyed and surprised during the search, having expected Naruto to do something as careless as run off on his own, not her. It took sometime to find her, although there were apparent signs where she had been and what had gone on, there were random and scattered. He imagined Sasuke was trying to lose her. When they finally found their pink haired comrade, she was unconscious, being held up by none other than the missing-nin they had been searching for. Shocked perhaps couldn't accurately describe the two at the scene, though the initial shock faded soon enough for the Nara boy than for Naruto, his mind already formulating multiple plans for how to handle the situation. Fight, rescue; talk rescue; talk, fight, rescue etc. His hand slowly inched for his weapon pouch, not wanting to move quickly knowing very well that Sasuke could easily put up a difficult fight and he wanted to avoid that as much as possible. Moving his foot slightly he prepared to act when Naruto ran forward, getting in his way. Troublesome Naruto. In the end there was no fight, few words were passed. It had been simple, too simple and yet no trouble ensued.

Opening his eyes, Shikamaru's face looked of pure boredom, though that seemed to be his favorite expression, he was still puzzled. "It doesn't, but that's how it was." Kiba was no better off, confused his scratched his head once again, earning a slight yelp of protest from Akamaru who had fallen asleep and was woken by his hand.

"Perhaps, he realized his actions were wrong and decided to return in order to make up for his past deeds." Lee said thinking the possibility perfectly logical. Neji closed his eyes for a brief second mulling it over, as did the others, though they all couldn't believe that to be the reason.

"I doubt that. He was set on this path, it would be strange if he changed his mind after so much time had passed." Neji responded.

"You don't think it was a trap do you? To get captured?" Naruto turned to Kiba, anger rising up inside of him. Captured on purpose? A trap? Impossible, even though Sasuke had gone to Orochimaru he wouldn't help him, he knew he wouldn't.

"Hey Kiba…"

"That seems unlikely." Shino interrupted. "Sasuke's guard wasn't completely down correct? He probably tried to escape but couldn't." This only puzzled Kiba more.

"How couldn't he? Sakura was unconscious right. So what was holding him back?" His question was met with silence. Obviously, there was something wrong with the whole affair, but none of them had the answer.

"Ask him yourself." Kiba groaned, his hand smacking his face in irritation, again startling Akamaru.

"Right, next time I see him I will." Shaking his head, he walked off with Akamaru bringing an end to the little group meet up. Choji, who had remained silent throughout the entire talk, looked over at Naruto and Shikamaru, Shino having left silently. Like them, he was also confused by the Uchiha's actions.

"Shikamaru, don't you think, maybe he stayed," both boys had his attention now. Shikamaru looking over at him calmly while Naruto already befuddled by the ordeal was anxious for any sort of understandable explanation, because of Sakura." Neither of them said anything. Naruto blinked a couple of times, processing the newly uttered information. Slowly the gears in his mind turned, every cycle bringing a clearer image. 3...2...1...

"What! Sasuke…because of…no way." Naruto laughed, finding the concept completely absurd. As oblivious as he was even he knew Sasuke had no feelings for his pink haired teammate, at least not in that sense. He was bothered by her, he always had been. Shikamaru gave a short nod.

"I'd have to go with Naruto on this one. I never knew him that well, but that seems unlikely." Naruto wiped the tears from his eyes.

"Yeah Choji you should pay more attention to these things." Walking off, Naruto looked back and waved at the two before continuing to his favorite ramen shop. Choji shrugged opening another potato chip bag. He thought about what they said, stuffing his mouth with the salty goodness. The concept didn't seem that strange to him, but then again he never knew the Uchiha that well either. Perhaps he was wrong.

---

It was dark, a heavy air of solitude hanging about him. It had been nearly fours days since he had been placed in that small room. He knew where he was, he recalled seeing the far off building once or twice. He had heard stories and many rumors about it, never once imagining himself to be held within its confined walls. "Hmph." He could almost laugh. There were many things he hadn't expected, all of which ultimately lead to him sitting alone in a dimly lit room. "Why?"

There stood his long time rival, the person he had eventually come to know and acknowledge as his best friend. He didn't get a chance to see who was standing beside him, though the voice he recognized as Shikamaru's before the blonde ran towards him. He expected a challenge, a fight something quite like the impatient boy but instead he dropped down to his level, ignoring him and focused on Sakura who was still unconscious. Before Naruto had a chance, Sasuke had let go of her hand, readying himself for a fight that wouldn't take place.

Calling out to the girl, Naruto lightly shook her, earning a scolding from his ex-teammate. "Baka, she's unconscious." Sasuke's voice was harsh, harsher than he had wanted it to sound. He was annoyed at himself, at fate, at everything and unluckily for Naruto some of that anger was being directed to him.

Sasuke opened his eyes having relieved the moment repeatedly trying to understand why he just stayed still. He saw his future plans all dwindling away. His training, his power, his revenge, his hopes for his clan's revival, all of it. He should have left when he had the chance. He had numerous ones, each time he could have easily defeated Sakura and have been way on his way back to Orochimaru, safe from them, his only worry then to be time. Yet he didn't, he stayed there, with her just waiting to be found, against his better judgment. "Why?" He looked down at his hand, the one that had held hers until they were found. He stared at it for a long time hoping somehow an answer would come to him, but there wasn't one, or so it seemed because it never came to him.