Okay sorry about the late update, but I had to write a fifteen minute speech for Geography and all this other school shit. Anyway here's a new chapter!

Story is rated T * Note there is some vulgar language used

Back Home At Last

Vengeance. In this world those who seek this word are ones who have lost another or in some cases... they have lost others. It's what drives a person to kill even if the lives he took were not necessary. It destroys sanity, and is like a poison that slowly takes over your brain; contaminating your thoughts and taking control. What you once believe seems to be gone as you only listen to words spoken by those who tell you how to earn power; how to get stronger to kill. You soon start to leave behind those who were there for you all along; breaking bonds with the closest of friends. Your world starts to revolve around the one person you seek. The man you want to rot in the ground and burn for eternity in hell. Your heart seems to be getting colder everyday with every man you slaughter. It can get to a point were you're willingly to slay your best friend in order to kill the one who gave you this role as an avenger. However when that point is reached... you lose the person you used to be.

Sasuke Uchiha lived his life seeking vengeance.

She stared out the window with a blank expression, leaving Shizune to only wonder what was going through the Hokage's head. The moon was visible in the night sky, illuminating light all over Konoha. There were barely any people outoors, mostly due to the fact that the shops were closing down for the night; considering it was already five minutes to midnight. The moonlight reflected on Tsunade's face as her mouth abruptly twisted into a scowl.

"Tch. Where are they?" she muttered to herself angrily.

"I'm sure they are alright my lady." Shizune replied wearily.

"You can't be sure!" Tsunade growled. "Right now no one has any idea of what's going on!"

Shizune let her head hang down and sighed heavily. Tsunade was in the most foulest moods. The Kokage had been complaining for hours how she should have sent back up to check up on Kakashi and team Gai. Alas, Yamato had convinced the woman to just wait for their return. Too bad the lady Hokage was not a very patient person. Humming quietly,Shizune tugged at the end of her sleeves restlessly. She decided it was better not to say anything at all to the fuming Tsunade.

Tsunade tensed as a cloud of smoke suddenly appeared in the room. As it cleared a masked ANBU shinobi stood before her, a scroll held in his left hand.

"Well?" The blonde woman asked, her light, brown eyes still gazing out her office window.

"I have some news, lady Hokage." The man replied stoic. "Hatake Kakashi has written a message regarding his teams current situation."

"What did does it say?" Tsunade twirled her chair so she was facing the tall shinobi.

"I don't know." He responded, lifting the bounded scroll to his chest. "I was told that the first pair of eyes to be laid on the message were to be yours, lady Hokage."

"Humph." Tsunade burrowed her brow. "Let me see it then."

Wordlessly the ANBU shinobi threw the scroll up into the air and the Hokage caught it with ease. She held it in her palm, but then froze. All of a sudden her expression turned grim. Tsunade's hand trembled and her eyes widened slightly, causing her assistant to feel discomfort.

"What's wrong Tsunade-sama?" Shizune asked worriedly "Aren't you going to read it?"

Tsunade stared silently at the scroll in the firm grasp of her right hand. The creme tinged paper was bound by a deep plum coloured ribbon, nothing out of the ordinary. Yet an odd sensation had entered her body when she had touched it. A sensation that made her stomach drop.

"I have a feeling..." Tsunade whispered, slowly turning her head back to the window. "This isn't good news."

With a dead body slung over his shoulder, Kakashi still kept a close eye on the blonde ninja in front of him. Along with team Gai, they leapt from branch to branch in the dark forest. Naruto was ahead of them all with his fists clenched tightly at his sides. The blonde ninja took deep breaths as he continued to move forward. He was trying his hardest to keep his thoughts focused on returning home and returning home only.

Kakashi glanced ahead sympathetically. It had taken nearly four hours for Naruto to calm down...after what had happened.

"Sasuke! Sasuke! Wake up! Teme... you can't be dead!"

"Stop it, Naruto!" Kakashi scolded.

"Sasuke..." Naruto sobbed. The boy was hovered over the Uchiha's body, his palms placed on the ground on both sides of Sasuke's head. Naruto's tears fell onto his former teammate's face and his knees were soaked in his blood.

Team Gai watched the scene sorrowfully. "Poor Naruto..." Rock Lee muttered and Tenten nodded. "I can't believe he's dead." Neji simply stated his voice low and eyes locked onto Sasuke.

"Naruto..." He didn't listen so Kakashi ended up having to pick him up.

"No! Sasuke!" Naruto only yelled in frustration.

The copy ninja sat him firmly on the ground, holding him still as he squirmed violently.

"Naruto, Sasuke is dead. Shaking him more and more won't do any good. I'm sorry... but he's gone." Kakashi said softly, with a hint of grief.

Naruto had stopped at that moment, but then the hyperventilating had begun.

"Guys come help me calm him down!" Kakashi commanded.

Everyone huddled around Naruto who was taking in sharp breaths, struggling to correct his intake of oxygen.

"We are here, Naruto." Tenten coaxed, placing a hand on his back.

"Please relax Naruto!" Rock Lee exclaimed.

It had taken them forever to get Naruto back to normal, or at least breathing properly. Yet the the boy was still upset and hadn't spoken a word since they had left the battle area. Kakashi turned his head to see Sasuke's limp arm hanging over his shoulder and dangling in front of his chest. The picture of team seven from years ago flashed in his mind and tears filled the copy ninja's eyes.

"We are bringing him back like you always wanted..." Kakashi thought returning his gaze back to Naruto. "It's a shame what awaits him is a coffin."

"What's going on?"

Sakura's words hung in the air. The tension level was high within the Hokage's office, it made the pink haired kunoichi stiffen. She surveyed the faces. Yamato's gaze was directed at the ground, Shizune look distressed and the Hokage had her back turned; as if she was looking out of her window.

"Tsunade-sama? Is everything all right?" Sakura held back a yawn as she approached her master.

"Read this, Sakura." Tsunade said, pointing a polished finger to a scroll on her desk.

"Hai..." Sakura responded puzzled. She had been summoned at about 1:00 AM in the morning, this had to be soml.

The scroll looked like it had already been read, as Sakura noticed someone had tied in a loose knot with a purple ribbon. She unravelled it and opened the scroll.

"This looks like Kakashi-sensei's writing." She thought skimming through it. "Okay so everyone is fine, Lady Hokage." Sakura began to read out loud. "Even... Naruto." She felt a pang of relief in her chest. "However, there is some bad news. Please let the village know, that Uchiha Sasuke is..." Sakura stopped. Her face paled and lips began to quiver.

"Tsunade is this...?" She looked up at her master shocked.

Shizune let out a quiet squeak and Yamato shifted from foot to foot uncomfortably.

"Hai, it's true." Tsunade said closing her brown eyes. "Uchiha Sasuke is dead."

They all stood in black with grieving faces. The elders stood solemnly as if seeming to wise to show emotion as any shinobi shouldn't. Many of the kunoichi's stood in tears, Haruno Sakura being one of them. As much as she had forced herself to hate Sasuke over the time he had left, she couldn't help but sob at the thought of him dead. She knew one day it was bound to happen, but not so soon.

At the ending of the ceremony, Kakashi had given a speech about Sasuke which had sounded more improvised than touching, yet he himself sounded remorseful.

Sakura glanced over to her right and regretted it immediately. Her jade eyes made contact with faded blue ones. She turned her head away right away, feeling her face redden after catching his stare.

"Sakura..."

Tsunade had said after she had found out the news.

"As hard as this is for you, it's ten times worst for Naruto. Try to understand."

Remembering those words Sakura returned her gaze back to Naruto and he glance back wearily. She gave him small smile and watched as he raised his blonde eyebrows in surprise. Sakura fluttered her gaze back to her feet, as if embarrassed by her actions. "I wonder if one day I'll understand your pain." She whispered twirling a rose in her fingers. "Till then, I can only feel sorry for you."

The two month's had gone by quicker than Naruto had anticipated. He had been trapped in the village mourning for what was weeks until he was finally ready to start training again. He was back into a better state of mind now; letting go of what had whole time he had been lying in bed he thought about what he was going to do now. The only other goal he had left was to become Hokage. Sitting up he stretched out his arms. A breeze rolled in through his window knocking over something on his night table.

"What?" Naruto mumbled lazily. He looked to see a picture frame knocked over. Sighing he picked it up and held it in front of him. It was the picture of the old team seven. Sasuke and himself looked annoyed while their sensei had a delightful expression. Naruto felt the corners of his mouth lift upwards in amusement, but then she caught his attention.

Sakura. She looked so cute and happy in the picture, in between the two boys. Naruto placed the picture back upright on his night table and let his face fall into his hands.

"It's either me or Sasuke. Make your choice."

He had left her in tears before going after Sasuke yet she had smiled at him at the funeral; or at least that's he thought he saw. Groaning, Naruto fell back into his cushy mattress. The truth hurt, but he was starting to miss having her around. Turning onto his side, he gazed at the other bare pillow. Sakura had not spoken a word to him since the funeral, in fact it seemed like she was avoiding the blonde ninja. His thoughts had been so consumed about Sasuke he hadn't even remembered Sakura was still upset at him.

"I should call her." He thought snapping his fingers. Naruto sprung out of his bed and nearly fell flat on his face. His beige painted room was a mess. Clothes and empty containers of ramen sat on the floor, making it like an obstacle course.

Naruto sighed, kicking away some clothes to clear his path. He didn't even know what to say to her, the best he had so far was sorry. Sakura and himself, had begun dating at the age of sixteen and it had lasted a year up until...that night. Naruto loved her; he always did. But finding Sasuke had been a huge priority, he thought she of all people would have understood.

Naruto cursed as he stubbed his toe on the corner of his wooden bed frame.

"Fuuuck!" He yelled in pain, holding his foot.

"Way to go..."

Naruto turned to see a silver haired ninja perched on the railing of his balcony, a hand held up in a sign of greeting. "Yo."

"Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto exclaimed, totally forgetting about his injured toe. "What's up?"

"Well I wanted to drop by for a nice chat, but that's not the only reason I'm here." He replied aloofly.

"Huh?" Naruto crossed his arms.

"Tsunade requested for you." Kakashi stated, scratching the back of his head. "She wants you to come to her office right away."

"Geez. It had to be now too..." Naruto complained.

"Hm? It doesn't seem like you were doing much anyway and besides..." Kakashi said grinning. "Myself, Sakura and Sai have also been summoned."

Naruto's eyes widened at his former sensei. "Wait! You don't mean..."

Kakashi nodded. "Yeah, that's right."

Naruto smiled, glancing back at the picture on his night table. "It's about time."

That was poorly written and I apologize, but I felt this was like of those filler Shippuden episodes you watch...so it wasn't easy to write. Really boring to be honest, but I needed to get through it and I promise the next chapter will be much more interesting! :D

You guys are great and all but I only got like two reviews. I told you guys the more you review the faster the chapters come out, if it wasn't for a random story alert yesterday...I probably wouldn't have updated who knows when! So anyway please review guys :)

~XOXO~