Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto.

AN: Only got two reviews from the first chappie! I'm sad… :'( Hopefully as the fic goes along people would read and like it.

The raved haired man stared at the Anbu before him with dull, emotionless eyes. His followers seeing their leader drop his hood did the same almost immediately revealing two men and a woman. Shikamaru knew who they were from the time he saw Sasuke. Jugo, Karin and Hozuki Suigetsu. This... was team Hawk. Shikamaru mentally cursed as he had heard about the rampaging Jugo before. A truly dangerous opponent.

"You are blocking the way," Sasuke stated calmly. Shikamaru looked at his eyes and realized that the Uchiha was quite bored with their current predicament. "You're a nuke Nin of Konoha. You know I can't let you pass," growled out the captain. Swiftly, Jugo jumped in front of Sasuke as well as Karin. "You won't take Sasuke anywhere," they gritted out. Jugo's hands trembled and his veins started to show. Karin never took her eyes off Shikamaru but slowly inched away.

"Calm down…Jugo."

The two members of Hawk as well as the Anbu looked at Sasuke with shock and curiosity. His head stayed in place while he looked out of the corner of his eyes at the big man. "A fight now would mean the death of us all."

Karin was appalled. "Sasuke-sama! These nobodies would not even be able to put a scratch on you!"
Sasuke took in a deep breath as he always did when dealing with the woman. "These are no lowly ninja. You can feel chakra signatures even better than I can. You should be able to sense their strength."

Karin's eyes widened. In her attempt to impress Sasuke she did not even try to read their chakra. She blushed a little and pouted while looking away. Sasuke turned his attention to the Anbu captain before Karin captured his attention with something interesting. "The one behind us is particularly strong." The air got thicker and the two groups were tense. Both ready to jump into battle at any time. Sasuke spared the woman a glance before looking behind him. The Anbu member's chakra gave off the same anger of his captain but also….determination. He stared at the Anbu for quite some time before sighing and looking back to the captain, smirking. "Mendoukse."

Shikamaru visibly jerked back. He couldn't believe it. Sasuke was able to tell his signature even though it's gotten much stronger since their last encounter. He was able to analyze the core of Shikamaru's chakra. Incredible.

'Calm down, just calm down,' Shikamaru ordered his body. He visibly relaxed while looking into the Uchiha's eyes. Uchiha Sasuke, still the genius among the group, the benchmark to surpass, a true genius. Shikamaru may have been smarter in terms of tactical analysis and strategy but the Uchiha could do it in the heat of battle while having his amazing speed and power. Genius.

His thoughts were interrupted when said genius spoke. "I wouldn't do that Hyuuga," the raven head stated while looking over his shoulder to the one Karin labelled as particularly strong. "You may be good, you may even be as strong as me, but mere kunai won't work against me. I suggest you take your hand out of your pouch before you anger me." Sasuke's narrowed his eyes and glared at the Hyuuga, almost challenging him.

"Were you not the one who said if we fight we all die?" Neji calmly responded while pulling out three kunai.

"Neji!"

Neji stopped what he was doing and looked at his commander. "Stand down….for now."

The Hyuuga was visibly upset but lowered his kunai filled hand. Sasuke just looked at him, and then sighed. He looked back to Shikamaru. "All of you have spent too much time with the dobe."

"And he's spent too much time searching for you," another of the Anbu spat out venomously. From the voice, you could tell this one was a Kunoichi. Sasuke looked at her…. 'Just by looking at her I can tell she's a Kunoichi."

He smirked at her. "Really grown up haven't you Ino-chan."

She growled at him and gripped her sword tighter. "Don't call me that Uchiha."

He just smirked. "Hn."

"Dammit! Shikamaru let's just take them! We have to either kill them or take Sasuke back to Konoha for trial anyway! We're wasting all this time talking." Team hawk got in a defensive position. Sasuke just looked in front of him at Shikamaru while addressing the Anbu behind him on the left. "You were just like dobe, Kiba. Always rushing in without a plan and going for brute force. It looks like that trait hasn't changed. And it's why you aren't the captain of this group."

Kiba growled while gripping his sword so tight his arms visibly shook from being tensed that hard. "Hold on Kiba. I need to ask him a few questions," Shikamaru commanded. Sasuke looked intrigued by Shikamaru's words. "Uchiha, you've been working with Akatsuki. What are their plans?" Sasuke couldn't help but smirk at Shikamaru's tone towards him… Still, he decided to humor his former 'comrade'.

"Uchiha Madara lives…. And our plan is the complete destruction of Konohagakure as well as the shinobi world."

Shikamaru seemed to already know this while the other four seethed. "Where is the akat-," he started, but was cut off. "There will be no more questions," Sasuke said while looking at Shikamaru with condescending eyes. "All four of your subordinates are members of the old rookie nine. Before Anbu squads were chosen who were best for the job. Now it's been degraded by a bunch of friends parading around as ninja. Shikamaru…don't make me kill your precious friends. Get out of my way or I will make you."

Shikamaru took no heed at Sasuke's words. "Provocation isn't like you Uchiha. Or at least, it wasn't." He then nodded at Kiba. "But you're right. We've spoken long enough."

Shikamaru drew his own kunai his left hand while he had his sword in his right. "I don't suppose you would make this easy on us and just come back peacefully?"

Sasuke simply closed his eyes and smirked.

Shikamaru looked up at the sky. He sighed deeply. "Mendoouukseee," he whined. Still looking up to the sky he couldn't help but whisper, "Guess we really do die tonight."

His head snapped back to position. "You're evil Sasuke," he gritted out. "I can't let anyone live that is associated with that group and seeking the destruction of the world. Even if it means my own death you will die here tonight. The world will be rid of the last Uchiha tonight. Go!" and the battle was on.

Back in

Suna

Sakura finds herself once again staring at her smiling blond friend. They were currently on their backs on the roof watching the stars. They had decided to check the roof of their lodging and look over the village. Beautiful buildings with an old feel made out of sand and wood. They were close to the end so it spread as far as they could see. In contrast to the usual below zero temperatures of the desert at night, tonight was accompanied with just a light, cool breeze.

Sakura focused on Naruto's smile. It made the pain in her chest even worse. It burned her. Stung and even stabbed at her. To know he was lying right next to her and she couldn't even hold his hand that was desperately close to hers. Her shoulders were almost rubbing his. She could practically smell him because they were so close. How it hurt, to be so close, yet so far. She just wished it were five years ago again. Where was the boy who constantly annoyed her, bugging her about going on dates with him? She zoned out while lying on her side looking at him. She couldn't help but feel sad that he had not asked her out since then…just when she found herself falling for the baka. She sighed and closed her eyes, not wanting to get too emotional.

"Sakura-chan?"

She opened her eyes and stared into his. "Are you ok?" he asked softly. It was such a contrast to his normal speech. She smiled and ran a hand through his hair. "I'm fine." It seemed to her that she always found an excuse to touch him yet, Naruto never stopped her. She wondered if it was because he still had feelings for her or a testament to their friendship...…or maybe... out of pity. Her hand stopped suddenly with that thought.

She then pulled her hand out his hair and let it rest at her side. Naruto frowned at the gesture. He wondered why she stopped suddenly. They had yet to break eye the intense gaze. Both seem to be asking the same question. 'Do you love me?'

"Are you sure, Sakura?" She blushed as she always did when he dropped the honorific. She sighed and went flat on her back again looking at the stars. She could feel Naruto's stare. He must have taken it as a sign when she didn't say anything and he laid back down. Sakura however, decided to work up the courage to ask. "Do you still like me Naruto?"

She heard the sudden shifting next to her and she closed her eyes. She didn't want to make this situation weird for both of them.

Naruto was shocked. Sakura had never asked that question once and Naruto always thought it to be taboo to bring up that topic lest it destroy their friendship. Naruto stared at her hard. 'No, I don't. Not anymore. I'm afraid I've fallen in love with you…..Sakura,' is what he wanted to say. Yet Naruto knew, that she wanted him to not like her so they could continue being the best friends they were. He chuckled darkly and Sakura looked at him.

"No Sakura-chan…. You don't have to worry about me harassing you anymore," he spat a little harsher than he intended but he wouldn't have taken it back in any case. He wanted her to feel hurt a little bit. Maybe even regret that he wouldn't follow her around any longer even though he knew she wouldn't.

Sakura did not realize what he was implying and only heard the first part of his sentence. 'No….Sakura-chan…..Dammit.'

She closed her eyes and swallowed. "I see. I guess it was only a matter of time. You have been quite busy with the ladies after all." 'That's so hard to say,' she croaked in her mind.

"I guess so," he whispered darkly, silently angered that she seemed not to care. 'I guess you just want me to stop fawning over you huh."

He frowned and got up. He turned towards the roof entrance and didn't spare Sakura another glance. "I'm going to bed," he muttered gruffly. She did not answer.

When she heard the door close and the footsteps disappear however, she sat up. She bit her lip and blinked faster than she normally would. Her eyes looked all over the village searching for something interesting. "Don't cry….don't cry…..You're a big girl…..a well known and respected Kunoichi," she whispered. She tried reassuring herself, but soon her lips quivered and the tears she held back trickled out of her eyes. She sniffled. And chuckled/half sob darkly. "This is what you get for taking him for granted Sakura….well done….." she put her face in her hands slowly and, wishing she could change the past, silently cried so no one would hear her. Little did she know that a masked ninja was leaning against the opposite side of the roof's entrance. 'Sigh. Those idiots. They just dug a deeper trench for themselves.'

Kakashi couldn't help but feel saddened at the kunoichi's sobs and wanted to comfort her but he knew this was something they needed to do by themselves. They were adults now and didn't need him meddling in their affairs even though he badly wanted to. His thoughts were broken as well as his heart though, upon hearing the mutterings of the crying girl he considered family. 'Naruto…..I'm sorry.'

AN: Ande hear is chapter two. I uploaded chappie 1 this morning and decided to write chapter two as well. :) REVIEWS? awww! don't make me cry. I only got thwee. :'(