Those charcoal eyes were unmistakable. Every detail seemed the same, right down to the dull flame that always seemed to reside deep down. But the years showed on the surface. Faded grey pupils, with slight lines shined underneath his eyes likely from a lack of a night's sleep. Maybe even a weeks worth. The face remained the same as well only the plains of his chin and cheek grew sharper, more mature. Black midnight strands spilled over his cheeks, slightly touching the coal burnt orbs. Slightly longer than the last time…

Sakura felt like ice, frozen and still. Not even her lungs dared to suck in that desperate breath of air that her body screamed for. Opening his mouth to speak once more, Sasuke was cut short by the two shadows that descended upon the two.

Naruto's snarl was heard before he was seen, his kunai held up defensively. Sakura saw the flash of his orange eyes when she felt Kakashi's touch on her arm as he can beside her protectively and ready. The group stood still when Sasuke finally held his hands up lightly, speaking in a soft tone. "I'm not here as a threat. I mean no harm."

Naruto responded with a dark snarl. "You're appearance IS a threat... To some..."

With that, Kakashi pulled Sakura back softly to the ledge, speaking low. "Come on, Sakura… Let's g-"

"No!" Sakura finally let the air back in her lungs and shoved him weakly. As she tried to approach Sasuke, Naruto pushed her back rougher than he intended and thrust her at Kakashi who caught and held her against her will. Sakura thrashed against his steely hold as she shouted at Naruto. "No! No! I want to talk to him! Let me go! You can't do this! Naruto!"

Naruto glared at Sasuke. "Shut up," he barked at her, and then spoke to Sasuke icily. "Why are you here?"

"Heard you were looking for me… Of course."

Naruto's jaw snapped shut, trying not to grind his teeth, turned his head slightly to speak and keep his eyes on Sasuke. "Kakashi…"

With a nod, just like that, Sakura was whisked away with the last sight being Naruto step nose to nose with Sasuke, weapons being draw, Kunai and Katana, both ready and –

Then scenery changed to an abandoned alley and Kakashi loosened his grip. "I'm sorry, Sakura. This is for your own good. You know we're only watching out for you." His face reflected the worry even more than his words and it made Sakura's stomach churn causing her to cast her head to the side to avoid his eyes. There was no point in fighting then, she'd just have to wait for Naruto and…

"What will he do? What will happen to Sasuke?" Sakura murmured quietly as she stared out pass the street, pass the people, in her own world. The image of them getting ready to fight crushed her and Kakashi knew it. He walked to her, placing a tender arm around her to pull her close and lean his head on top of hers. He did this often after Sasuke left. He became the father figure in her life; the only man other than Naruto to stay by her side.

"I don't know. I wish I could tell you but I can't. We'll just have to wait." He paused a moment, thinking. "I think we should get you home."

Sakura nodded, not wanting to fight anymore, and walked ahead to her apartment. After leaving Kakashi at the door, Sakura bound up the stairs lazily, closing her door and slumping against it, letting her body slid to the floor. Is he really here? Where was he all this time? What's going to happen now? Why is he here… Why IS Sasuke here? He never specified that, just said he heard we were looking for him but that ended almost a year ago. Why return now? Sakura sighed and rose from the floor to go to her kitchen and drink some water while she stared out the window. A thought shot through her as she eyed the window more. Setting her cup down, Sakura made her way to the window, opened it and hesitated a moment before sticking her leg out the window and moved to the roof. From there, she studied all the roofs looking for a sign of Naruto and Sasuke. Nothing. They were gone. Seeing no point in staying, Sakura turned to use the stairs this time when she almost stepped on Shikamaru who was sitting up, looking up at her impishly. He smiled slightly with a short wave.

"Hey, Sakura. Uh, what are you doing up here?"

She raised an eyebrow at him. "N-nothing. I was just looking around. Why are you here?"

"Cloud watching," he pointed up at the cluster of puffy clouds moving across the sky at a snail's pace. "Choji was here a bit ago but he left to go get snacks."

Sakura relaxed at sat down next to him, she could use a distraction. "But why on my roof?"

"Didn't know I had to ask first and your roof has the most shade right now." He replied, shrugging and laying back down with his hands under his head like always. Shikamaru hadn't changed too much. Growing taller, of course, and a change of uniform but, other than that, he was the same. His amount of laziness still managed to fascinate Sakura along with everyone else but they all knew he was a genius and just learned to accept it. But, after the death of Asuma, Shikamaru did change. He grew up, you could say. Taking up the leadership of the team like his teacher always knew he could do, not to mention protecting Asuma and Kurenai's child. Shikamaru was good to the baby, like a big brother or mentor. Sakura knew that kid was in good hands with Shikamaru.

Sakura stared out over the village again, also enjoying the shade. The banners and streamers still flowed through the streets while kids and adults danced through. The sounds didn't reach the roof where they sat so it was very peaceful… until Sasuke came along. Sakura wondered if Shikamaru and the others knew yet. Surely, Naruto couldn't keep quiet. That's impossible for him. She cast a small look over at Shikamaru, trying to clear her thoughts when Choji skittered across the roof tops to each the two with a panic look on his face.

"Shi—Shika—Shikamaru…," he managed to muttered loudly while trying to catch his breath. He flopped onto the floor next to Shikamaru while Sakura stood up and looked down at them worried.

Shikamaru was worried too and low on patience with his best friend's long pause. "Well?! What is it?" Choji held up his hand to Shikamaru to wait and took a few deep breathes until he eyed the bag of chips his hand and opened them causing both bystanders to sigh loudly. "Choji!"

Choji smiled gently. "Sorry. All that running got me hungry… now, what was I going to say? Oh! I remember! Shikamaru, Sakura, Guess who's here?" The silence stretched a moment waiting for the answer. "Sasuke! Lady Tsunade wants us to all meet in her office now."

Sakura took a step back and closed her eyes. So, he was safe. Naruto didn't kill him. She breathed in lightly with relieve when she heard movement and opened her eyes. Shikamaru had stood up and now face Sakura, his eyes guarded and studying her face. He opened his mouth as if to say something but seemed to change his mind and say something else. "Are you coming with us? If you are we're getting Ino first."

Sakura sighed inwardly and smiled. "Yes. Okay."

The group moved together to Ino's family's flower shop. Ino glanced up at them through her hair as they entered, setting off the bell overheard. She smiled, leaning confidently against the corner. "Hey, Boys. Hi, Sakura. What brings you all here?"

Ino was another who seemed to have changed but not at all at the same time. She dressed differently now, still purple but now her midriff showed and she kept part of her face hidden with a thicker piece of hair. Her attitude, however, was ever the same although Sakura had sensed Ino and Shikamaru had something going on or something since they treat each other separate from anyone else. Sakura hoped Tamari wouldn't notice when she comes around.

Shikamaru kept his hands casually in his pockets and look at Ino with a no-playing-today look. "Tsunade wants us all in her office, now. Sasuke came back."

Ino straightened up instantly sending Sakura a questionable, worried look cause her to growl at Ino's hesitance. "Could ya just move it, Ino-pig?"

Ino snorted at her with a look, forgetting her worry. "I'd move faster if your forehead wasn't blinding me," then leveled her eyes with Shikamaru and Choji. "Is this for real? Is he really back?"

Shikamaru nodded slowly and held her gaze. "Yea, so let's go and find out."

The group exited together and walked to the Hokage's office in silence. Sakura hung near the back, trying to calm her heart's rapid beating. She didn't want to see him with all these people around. She wanted to see him alone, just the two of them. That would never happen. Sasuke is too big a deal, a problem, that no one would let her deal with by herself. Amidst her thoughts, Sakura failed to notice they were now right outside Tsunade's office and stopped short. Tsunade was the one who protected her most; more than even Naruto himself! So the dark emotion deep inside Sakura protested to entering the room. Tsunade wouldn't put her through the agony of facing Sasuke with everyone. That means Sasuke's not there. He's somewhere else… What if this discussion was to talk about what they were to do with him? Sakura couldn't bear it if one voiced torturing him. Just thinking about it made her feel weak, like she was going to fall. What if they planned something even worse…? Like death? The word pressed against her chest like a ton of bricks and Sakura had to reach out to touch the wall to keep her balance. Sasuke's death would ruin her.

Ino and Shikamaru grabbed Sakura by the arm, the panic displayed openly in their eyes as they stared at her. "Sakura? Sakura, are you okay?" Ino asked; her voice low so the others in the other room couldn't hear although Sakura knew it was too late when the door flew open to reveal Naruto on the opposite side. His face donned a thin scratch over his cheek and a bloody lip but otherwise seemed just fine but his eyes burned with suppressed anger mixed with the concern that washed over all his features. He stepped forward once with his long legs and towered over Sakura, touching her cheek. The group slowly stepped inside the room to leave them alone for a moment.

"Sakura, its okay. What's wrong?"

"I—I can't. I can't do this. I--" Sakura regained some amount of strength as she gripped his collar and pulled it tightly. "What happened? Where is he?"

The temper swam up to the surface a moment until Naruto closed his eyes and looked down to suppress it again. "He's fine. Nothing happened. He's under surveillance at his old home. This meeting is for us to discuss what our next move will be."

Sakura loosened her grip then moved one hand to his face, tracing the scratch. "What about this?" she asked quietly as Naruto looked back up at her.

"I couldn't let him return after all this time without having a little scrap," he replied, winking at her mischievously and laughed a moment. With a sigh, his face returned to neutral. "Are you going to come in here or will that be too uncomfortable?"

Sakura leaned to look around him and into the room. Everyone was there. Kakashi, Iruka, Tsunade, all the teams and their teachers and some ANBU members all scattered around the room. Guy flashed a smile and thumbs up while Tenten waved to her from behind Neji who just stared at her hard. Rock lee blow her a kiss until Kiba smacked him and smiled at her while Hinata blushed and stared at Naruto like she did when they were kids. Sakura was tempted but pulled back against the wall and sighed. Behind the fun attitudes, Sakura knew sadness and pity lurked underneath the surface and she didn't need the sympathy looks and stares. With that thought, she looked up to meet Naruto's waiting eyes and shook her head once.

"I can't, not this time."

"Okay, that's fine. Just know, I'll never let them do something that could possibly cause you pain in anyway. I promise." Naruto replied, squeezing her hand once and stepping back into the door and, with a lasting look, shut the door on her. Sakura grimaced for a second.

"Anything you choose will hurt me…" she murmured under her breath before stalking off down the silent hall into the darkening shadows.

Outside, the village slowly calmed down as the sun floated just beneath the forest showering the sky with a blast of colors of purple, orange, and red. It was lovely and the people of the village began to close up shop and herd their children home to but them to sleep for school the following morning. Moms and Dads would stay up a bit most likely to enjoy the silent night activities that some of the other stores offered. Sakura could see couples already heading to the bars, giggling and enjoying themselves. She walked through the street, as far away from them as possible. She wasn't in the mood to envy them tonight. Instead, her mind wandered back to Sasuke and the meeting. Maybe it wasn't so smart to run from the meeting. It made her feel chicken, like a little child. It wasn't fair but it was too late now. They were debating his fate now, and her own. Either way, the single decision would alter Sakura's life all over again, turn it upside down and tear it down. Kicking a rock as she walked, Sakura sighed as her eyes landed on the old part of the village, where the Uchiha Clan only resided. This must be where they have Sasuke at. This was his last home, of course. He never did bother to get an apartment like her and Naruto did. Sakura was tempted to go and search for him but the ANBU didn't exactly make their presence unknown. Two guards were stationed at the entrance, both sitting casually against the wall, joking and talking; probably trying to keep each other awake. Along the wall, other ninjas were placed randomly in trees, on roofs, everywhere. Sasuke was certain under lockdown. Was he really that big of a threat? Plans deflated, Sakura walked calmly home, and sat at her bed's edge, staring out the window. The stars shown overhead and began to sparkle and shine down at the apartment's dusty window and into Sakura's eyes. Night was the best time of day, with its silence, it peacefulness, its secrets that crept in the inky shadows. In the streets, couples walked back home, talking and telling stories that shouldn't really be shared and Sakura smiled. Sake did that to a lot of people. She could write a novel about the things she heard from one Saturday night alone! Tuning the couple out, Sakura kept walking until she made it to her apartment but stopped short when she saw the door was left cracked open, the lock not even disturbed. She took in her surroundings and retrieved a Kunai from her back pouch before she pushed the door open quietly, entering the darkened home. It was silent inside but the shadows pulsed around her, alerting her of an intruder had passed through, not touching anything but still leaving their presence in the air. Just as Sakura turned to flick on the light, a shadow passed her vision and cloaked her eyes completely shielding her vision. The rough hand held over her eyes but not in a threatening manner as a pair of lips leaned near the side of her face. She moved out of reflex but the other hand stopped her before she could land a blow as if it had predicted as much and a soft sound emanated between the two of them.

"Shh," the voice requested silence and paused to see if she'd corroborate.

Sakura tried to relax her shoulders in sign of surrender but couldn't bring herself to do so; instead, nodded once and waited.

The hand released the now throbbing shoulder and Sakura heard the flick of the light switch and the light that etched around the stranger's hand gave proof to her original thought.

"Are you going to move your hand, or what?" Sakura snapped, clenching her kunai again. He didn't pose as threat but being blind was still a weakness she couldn't afford.

"Not quite yet. Can I trust you to keep your eyes close even when I move my hand or will you really need to be blindfolded?" The dark voice asked with a slight smile in his voice causing Sakura to ground her teeth in frustration.

"Why? This is absurd and--"

"Could you just do it without fighting? I have my reasons." He interrupted her complaints and waited once again until Sakura sighed and nodded again to signal he could trust her.

His hand slipped away softly and Sakura squint her eyes closed tightly to fight the temptation to peek. She was about to ask another question, her mouth opened already, but before the words could roll out, she heard a soft chuckle and she snapped her jaw shut.

"What's so funny, huh?"

The chuckles grew then died out but they still resided on the man's voice.

"You. You look so different. I like that you kept your hair short, by the way," he sighed. "I don't know about your attitude though. You still have that nasty temper of yours."

With that, Sakura couldn't hold back. She already knew where he stood, his voice gave that away, and so she swung hard, aiming for his face.

Once again the guy knew her too well, grabbing her swinging arm and twisted her around so both arms were now pinned behind her and him pressed against her back. Sakura stared around the apartment then tried to look over her shoulders to see who intruded her home and pushed her buttons but he held her to where he could still hide.

"Calm down, Sakura. I was only joking… Although you just proved my point," he joked and Sakura shoved back in response only making him laugh more. He sighed and loosened his grip. "You put up such a fight when I'm not even a threat. Does my hidden identity bother you this much?"

"Yes," she growled. "It does." With that, kicked her feet back and as he dodged it, stepping back, Sakura twisted her body so her arms flipped and were now pinned across her chest and her eyes met with her capturer. The eyes bore into her filled with amusement, shock, and flat out enjoyment that caused her to stuck in a quick breath of air.

"But.. You can't be here… You…"

((Who do you think it is??? Just wait for the next chapter ;D Thanks for reading.))