The Bang Game has been revived! I am alive! I read through and analyzed the story so I could take it in the direction I intended it. This chapter is short, but it really helps sums thing up and set the stage right for the big part to come! I produced this chapter way faster than I thought capable, but I just had to write today! Look for another chapter by New Years. Enjoy :)

"...And that's why Naruto almost killed Sasuke."

Sakura let out an uneven breath, slumping slightly back into her chair across from the principal. She had finished explaining the entire situation for what it was, no details spared. It started all the way back with the Gaara hooplah, then Sasuke making his advances, then the manipulations… and then the sex. Of course Sakura didn't hold back on the large breasted female part and the burnfest that followed after. And after the burnfest came Sasuke about to get his ass handed to him by Naruto, except..

"...there was no fight. Why didn't he fight?"

The rosette looked at Tsunade as she said this, arms crossed with a slight pout on her face. 'Because he said he deserved it' was not good enough reason for Sakura to dissolve the matter. The way he had looked at her as he said it…it was bothering her.

"Sakura, I'm going to give you some advice." This caught her attention. Her green eyes locked with the blonde's intense, bold brown ones, seeing Tsunade leaning somewhat over the desk, arms up so her lips could rest against her hands. It was a very serious look, so Sakura sat up and engaged the woman across from her, eagerly awaiting the rest. "As much as I want to lecture you about safe sex and boys and how fucking stupid they can be…" Now the principal sighed, breaking the intensity to sit back up and relax, "...I am no fool when it comes to love."

LOVE?!

Sakura had to take an internal moment to digest this. Was Tsunade implying there was love between her and Sasuke?

"HAH!"

Oh, that was out loud, wasn't it?

From the look at the blonde woman's face, it was. Her brow was raised to one side, "You don't think you love him?"

"W-well…" She felt so many things right now. The word 'love' had never been tossed around in her life, ever. Sure she had a thing for Gaara, but that really seemed to be put to rest for now. Actually, now that she thought about it, not only had the chance never rose for her and Gaara to figure it out, but they seemed too good of friends, like brother and sister, for 'love' to ever occur. Honestly, Sakura didn't want to disturb it.

But then take the word 'love' and apply it to Sasuke…

Her tummy flipped about, a heat flowing to her rosy cheeks. She couldn't keep her eyes with Tsunade as she thought about it. She had been so caught up in her hurt feelings the last few days she never bothered to think why she was so hurt. Because she did have strong feelings for him, it just hadn't been labeled yet.

But love?

Sakura focused back on Tsunade, looking right into her brown eyes to give her the most honest answer she felt, "Maybe...I do love him. But Tsunade, why do you…"

She trailed off, not sure how to end the thought. The other woman picked up without missing a beat. "Because he took your virginity. I'm sure you're aware a chemical is released in your brain when you have intercourse, literally making you bond with the person, so it's only natural you feel this way." Before Sakura had a chance to question that further, she picked back up, "Of course that's only one of many factors. Clearly you warmed up to him as soon as Gaara was no longer an option, and to me, it seems he did the same."

Okay, she could agree that Sasuke showed interest in her and cared about her. He liked her, and that's as far as she would believe it. From her relaxed position, Sakura continued the conversation, "If he liked me so much, then why approach it so aggressively? He was so sexually advance with me and we did do it, but…" now the doubt came into her mind, eyes shifting away once more, saddened, "...there's no way he could love me back. With the girls he's been with, I'm just another one he had to bang."

The gloomy thoughts only clung with her for a moment, for Tsunade had some more wisdom to share.

"First off Sakura, I told you, boys are fucking stupid. It's not as complicated as you think, it was just his way of showing how 'strong' those feelings were. And secondly…" Now their eyes met, intensely, "...What if you were his first?"

The rosette found herself trying not to burst into another laugh at the thought of that. There were just way too many girls he'd been seen around with and rumors that he'd slept with a number of them. She didn't want to think about it too much, feeling an ache in her chest.

Oh god, even thinking that he's been with someone else just kills me on the inside.

She needed to shake this trail of thought and get back to the other woman. "Look, there are just too many rumors that-"

"Oh, rumors? Rumors like the ones about you going around? You tell me Sakura, how much truth usually lies behind a rumor?"

Well, that shut her up. Sakura kept her eyes with the brown pair across the deck from her, pondering this. "Well if you want a specific answer...maybe ten percent?"

Tsunade gave a slight grin, appreciating her calculation, "I was going to round off a little and tell you it's just about zero, but you get the point."

You gotta admit Sakura, she has an awfully good point. The rosette pondered this a little further, trying to put the pieces together. She could accept on her part that MAYBE she could be in love with Sasuke.

Ah, but she found a few bumps rather quickly to retort back and engage the conversation once more. "Okay, so the past is the past, and a small part of me believes I could have taken his virginity. But I saw him with Himiko, her face in his hand, like he was going to kiss her. AND!-" now she sat up, voice raising, a fire almost in her eyes, "-he fucking TOLD me he fucked her! What the FUCK!?"

"And I told you Sakura, boys are fucking stupid!"

Even though she was worked up, she could tell Tsunade had more to say. Sakura slunk back at bit her tongue, but kept her attention ahead of her. "Boys are aggressive by nature, and you are probably also aware of Sasuke's emotional short fuse." She nodded. "Okay, now Sasuke blew up on you and said some terrible things. What do you think caused that short emotional fuse of his to blow?"

Sakura was about to hit that 'ah-hah' moment, beginning to say her thoughts out loud. "It was after I saw him about to kiss her…"

"Here's another mindfuck for you. What if that was just like the Gaara and Aoi thing, hmm? Didn't he just touch noses with her. Much less severe."

Again, Sakura had been too emotionally worked up herself to think anything besides that. She didn't get to see the expression on their faces...what did their faces look like? Did he look lustful or mad? She really couldn't say. She couldn't make herself look for long.

"...After I saw whatever that was between them, I was upset and continued to class, but he was on my heels in seconds and he wanted to...explain himself."

As she finished that sentence, her eyes lifted from thought into reality, back to Tsunade. The pieces were coming together now. A slight grin was back on Tsunade's lips, "And why do you suppose he came chasing right after you?"

"Because he cares about me."

It dawned on her. There was that moment of realization.

"Oh god, I should have just let him talk."

The blonde woman only nodded, keeping her eyes with Sakura as she stayed on this roll. Those green eyes were locked intensely with hers, looking for answers. "Tsunade, I was so upset in my own world I wouldn't even listen to him and that's all he wanted! Then he blew up on me and I just broke down and left…" Now she had to break eye contact to drift back into thought, wondering what if might have been like in the Uchiha's shoes. "Did he hear me cry? Didn't he go home right after? And the only time I saw him since then was today, and he was saying how he deserved to be beaten up. He wouldn't fight Naruto. Sasuke wouldn't just fold on a fight unless there was some other big force behind it."

Now that Sakura was looking back at Tsunade, she could see the grin on her face, hands behind her head as she leaned back in her chair. But that look in her eye was saying there was something more. She was implying something with that inquisitive look.

Force, I said there was a force behind it. What would the force be?

Just a small gasp of excitement came from her lips, voice jumping an octave higher as her heart skipped a beat, "ME?!"

Tsunade nodded.

Sakura suddenly felt like fainting.

Giving a little chuckle, Tsunade adjusted herself back to sitting upright with a forearm now placed on her desk. "Don't get excited so quickly, you know there have been many repercussions because of this. I went easy on you, not so much those boys." And very bluntly, with a burning fire in her eyes, "Especially not Sasuke."

Until Tsunade said that last bit, she had been blushing and twiddling her thumbs at the thought, despite all the pain, Sasuke had undeniable feelings of some kind for her. But with the tone shift and that killer look in her eyes…

"You didn't hurt him, did you?"

"Physically? No."

"Tsunade…"

The blonde sighed, "Naruto I let off the hook since technically he never hit the guy. However, Sasuke will be out until the weekend at least, and that's if I feel like letting him back into my school after treating you the way he did."

If Sakura knew one thing, it's that Tsunade had no mercy for men treating women poorly. Apply that to her precious Sakura, and the guy calling her one of the most vile names ever from just being frustrated and flustered… no mercy. It seemed the punishment of only missing a day (well possibly almost a day, depending how Tsunade felt come Monday) was fair. Which meant that, emotionally, she must have had some pretty harsh words for Sasuke. Sakura had to admit he kinda deserved it, so now maybe he knew what it felt like to really be ripped open.

The principal continued speaking on the matter, "Sasuke needs a few days to process his feelings. Just like you, he experiences his feelings one big glob at a time. First was his horniness, then his anger, and now its his regret."

Sakura was attentive, though trying to think if there was anything she might have missed. She understood, despite her emotional rollercoaster, she might actually love Sasuke. And she also had come to understand that, despite how fucking stupid his actions may have been toward her, there was a reason. He had some kind of fond emotions for her, but love…?

"Do you think this means he might love me?"

This time, Tsunade held a smug smile, "Ah, the big question. Love is a funny things, isn't it?"

Sakura's look of hope quickly turned into a frown, brow furrowing slightly, "You answered my question with a question."

The blonde sat up one more time, looking the Haruno right in her eyes. "Sakura, I don't have all the answers for you. There is obviously something between the two of you, but that is for you both to figure out."

Before she could dig further into the context, Sakura found herself drawn into the concluding part of this meeting. "I know the semester is coming to an end soon, but I'm going to call our situation here a special one. I'm well aware you are passing all your classes with flying colors, so some of them I won't even require you to take a final, like...sociology."

Oh woah, what was she implying here? Sakura had a good feeling she knew what this meant. "I'm guessing it's because Sasuke and I are in the same class and you don't want to put me through emotional torment."

A nod confirmed her belief, the principal continuing the arrangement, "You do need to take the medical technology final, and math, but you can take them as soon as you feel ready. Preferably this weekend."

The rosette sat up tall, eyes widening in shock, "That's only a few days! Why do you want me to take these so soon!?"

"Simple. So you don't have to attend classes until next semester starts."

Normally, most people would be elated at this type of news. That was at least a full month off, closer to 6 weeks. Sakura frowned upon this though. "Right, giving me a pass on the class from high grades is one thing, but a long, excused absence?"

"It's a choice I decided to make for your well being. Right now, part of this school's population is in a tizzy, especially some of the girls. But I bet these girls are going to forget all about Sasuke and you after winter break to find some other distraction. For now though, I'm not sure what might happen and I don't think it's safe."

Sakura rolled her eyes, "What are they going to do? Gouge my eyes out with their pencils?"

Tsunade had a very serious look on her face. "Bitches are crazy. This is going to need a few weeks, so just be thankful you get this time off and go with it Sakura."

She sighed and nodded. It's not like I have a choice.

A few more words were exchanged before Sakura left the office, Kakashi being excused from his lunch to give her a ride home. Her parents were going to get a special call from Tsunade herself saying how exceptional Sakura performed this semester and how, after testing at the school this weekend, she could enjoy some extra time off. Not as if it mattered much, since her folks seemed to work all the time. But for now, the arrangements were all figured out.

Except for the one matter that still needed to be figured out, and probably the most delicate of all - The Uchiha.