A/N: Hey guys hope all is well! I know I haven't updated in a while! Sorry! I'm trying to update this as often as I can but life n' stuff... lol anyways... I was also having major writer's block trying to figure out how to write this part as well as keeping Sasuke in character while also showing the development of the relationship between them. If you could please review and let me know how you think the story is going and if you think there's something that I could improve! Thanks for reading! -D.A.T.

We walked down the road for a while until I was sure there wasn't any prying ears around. I could feel Sasuke's eyes on me waiting patiently for me to talk. "I'm sorry…" I said looking down to my feet as I walked. "…I know I've been kind of rude to you…" I sighed and looked him in the eyes as I slowed my pace slightly to show my sincerity. "I just….I wanted to befriend you for my own selfish reasons." I paused taking a breath. "I'm not sure if you heard what happened to me before I came here. I will tell you if you want… I just… I saw it in your eyes earlier…." I looked down in shame. "I was so busy trying to find someone that I could relate to that I didn't notice that your pain still haunts you…and for that I'm truly sorry… I had no right to assume that your pain was the same as mine…" as I finished I fought back the tears stinging my eyes. I looked at Sasuke to try to determine what was going through his head; I saw his arms lightly shaking. This further upset me and I started speaking again. "I'm sorry Sasuke….I understand if you can't forgive me or hate me even…" looking ahead and took a breath to start again but felt something around my wrist. I looked over and saw that Sasuke had stopped walking completely and grabbed a hold of my wrist to stop me from walking farther. He was looking to the ground making it impossible to read his expression. "I don't hate you…" he said without a hint of emotion. "I remember that feeling… I had no one to talk to…no one that understood… you can tell me… if you want…"he finished. I felt my eyes soften as I looked at him. "Thanks… if you want you can tell me your story as well." I said softly while grabbing his wrist softly with both hands. We looked at each other a bit puzzled by the sudden development of friendship between us but it quickly faded and we let our arms fall to our sides, releasing our grip from one another.

We walked a little farther and arrived at the training grounds. "Well this is it!" I said trying to change the odd mood from earlier. "How about we talk a bit after some training?" I said with a smirk. He simply nodded. I took a stance and asked "Are you ready?" He took a stance farther away from me and we began our match. Hours later we looked at each other panting, every attack was blocked on either side which had made us completely exhausted. "Not bad…Uchiha" I said through heavy breaths. He smirked and said "Not bad yourself Tenseiku." I laughed a little and said "Well let's call it a tie for now and finish this match another time… after all we do have to get up early tomorrow for survival training." He replied, "Fine with me…" we both collapsed on the ground. "Want to talk while we recuperate enough to walk home?" I slightly laughed because of how exhausted we both were. "Sure…" he replied a little indifferent. So I sat up and scooted a little closer to him and started telling him everything that had happened before I came to the leaf village. He sat and listened the whole time saying nothing and nodding occasionally to let me know that he was listening. I stood up after telling him what had happened. He just stared at me for a while and muttered softly "I'm sorry…" he looked down. "Hey I'm okay!" I smiled at him a bit. "I'm going to find them and make that bastard pay for what he did. That's my dream now…my purpose…" I paused to look at him again "I have made new friends and have become stronger… there's still hope… that's what I'll hold onto for now…" He stared at me for a few minutes seemingly dumbfounded by my positive attitude. I knew the chances of them being alive was slim, but if they took them for their Kekkei Genkai there was still a chance that the might be alive. I shuttered thinking of the horrible things that they would have to endure if that were the case… but at least they would still be alive.

I sighed and tried to shake off the depressing mood that I was feeling. I looked at Sasuke seemingly deep in though sitting on the ground still. I held my hand out to him and said "Here." He took the hint and grabbed my hand and I pulled him up. Since my body was still a bit tired it wobbled a bit after Sasuke was off the ground. He noticed and grabbed my arm before I could fall over. I smiled sheepishly at him and muttered a thanks. I gently shook off his arm and tried walking towards the direction of my house, again my vision swayed slightly and I stumbled to keep my balance. I heard a sigh from behind me and felt an arm go around my back to balance me. I muttered another thanks and again tried to escape his grasp but he held onto me firmly. "I'll walk you home tonight…" he said sighing. I don't want to be a burden to him after finally establishing our friendship. I sucked up a gust of wind to try and protest but he cut me off. "You can barely stand let alone walk… its fine… just don't make a habit out of it okay?" he stated in a serious tone. I let out the air I just sucked in and nodded to him.

We made our way back to my house with his arm supporting me the entire way there. As we reached the doorstep I thanked him once more and said my farewell to him. He just shrugged and waved as he was leaving. I unlocked the door and went inside and took a hot shower to get the mud off of my body. Happily sighing at the warmth I washed myself and got ready for bed. I looked at the clock and realized that I had three hours before I had to get up for Kakashi-sensei's training. "Ugh…." I grunted in annoyance as I thought about the lack of sleep. 'I kind of feel bad for keeping Sasuke up this long… and he had to walk home after he came here too… I'll have to apologize tomorrow…but for now I need sleep." I thought as I drifted off to sleep.