AUTHOR SAYS: SPOILER ALERT! YOU'VE BEEN WARNED! I got some reviews and i couldn't stop smiling :-) I'll try my best to keep uploading on a daily basis.

WARNING: This chapter might be a bit...gruesome...well to me it is. Hope it's to your liking.

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Legend:

'Thoughts'

"Talking"

"Jutsu"

Chapter Five - Don't Lie

Eighteen days, three hours and sixty two seconds was when Sasuke last touched or kissed her. And training was not part of that category. Sure when he struck or kicked her that was a form of touching, but it wasn't 'that' kind of 'touching' he suddenly yearned for. Sasuke clenched his fists and glared at the wall, his obvious frustration was oozing out of him at this point, even his despicable hoard of fangirls felt it. They knew to keep their distance.

"Hey Sasuke-kun." A cheerful voice greeted behind him.

"Hn." He replied, he didn't need to turn around to know who that voice belonged to.

"How are things going?." She asked.

Yamanaka Ino sure liked to make an entrance, she even took the seat opposite from him without proper invite. She was quickly becoming a headache to him. He didn't reply, in fact he silently excused himself and was out on the street in seconds. Ino failed to see the annoyance written on his face and followed.

"Now, now, Sasuke-kun, don't be like that." She whined, "I just want too talk."

Sasuke stopped mid-stride, "Leave. Me. Alone."

Ino bit her lip but didn't dare push her luck. She watched as he stalked away slowly, it didn't take a genius to realise something was obviously bothering him and she had a feeling she knew what. The what came in the humble form of Hinata Hyuuga. Sasuke took to the rooftops with a certain destination in mind. Coincidentally, the person he wanted to see seemed to have the same thing in mind, because he was standing above the tower, waiting for him. Gone was the Hokage robe and hat he usually wore. Sasuke landed beside him.

"Teme." He whispered.

"Dobe."

Naruto seemed sad in comparison to Sasuke's frustration. Both looked worn, tired, and most of all lonely. Though neither spoke of it, being next to the other brought some form of comfort. It seemed like yesterday that they fought side by side to bring down Madara and Obito. He even remembered how Sasuke had announced he would become Hokage, stunning many on the battlefield apart from Naruto who took up his rivals challenge.

Naruto laughed, "Still wanna be Hokage?." He joked.

Sasuke smirked, "Pass."

"Didn't you say..-"

"The idea seemed relevant at the time."

"What changed your mind?." Naruto wondered.

"Something caught my eye." Though a man of truth, Naruto didn't need to know who exactly.

But it seemed his blonde haired friend wasn't as slow as Sasuke thought, "How's Hinata?."

Sasuke glared at him from the corner of his eye, "I came here to fight."

Now that his suspicions were confirmed, Naruto sighed, perhaps since Sasuke was going through a similar phase, he could help him out, "Do you think she'll ever love me?." He whispered.

Sasuke's katana was pressed tightly against his throat, "You had your chance with her." He spat.

Naruto frowned, "What do you mean? Sakura-chan will never look at me the way she looks at you."

'Dammit.' Sasuke thought, withdrawing his blade. He thought Naruto was talking about Hinata. If the dobe didn't realise his interest in Hinata before, he most probably knew now. He needed to vent.

"Kuchiyose no Jutsu." Naruto said.

Out of the smoke Gamakichi appeared, "Yo, Naruto."

"Yo." He replied, "I need you to perform a reverse summoning for me and Sasuke."

The toad frowned, "No way, grandma won't be to inviting to the idea."

"Why are we arguing right now, just do it." Naruto demanded.

Gamakichi inhaled the cigarette in his mouth and blew a fresh cloud of smoke at him, "Make me."

Naruto yanked at his hair, "Why must we go through this everytime i summon you."

"I like to piss you off." Gamakichi said with a chuckle.

"How about next time i'll call for your dad or Gamatatsu." He muttered. Gamakichi butted his cigarette out.

"Fine, fine." He said, he then glared at the Uchiha traitor standing next to his master, "Ready?."

Sasuke shrugged his shoulders carelessly, "Whatever."

Naruto smiled, "To Mount Myoboku."

Meanwhile...

"Hey Hinata." She greeted.

Hinata smiled, she didn't want to make this awkward, "Hey, Sakura-san."

"Can we talk?."

"Hai."

Both girls stepped into Ichiraku's ramen store, knowing it was Naruto's favourite diner within the village. Hinata giggled secretely to herself, she recalled this place being the least favourite to Sasuke, he tended to avoid any types of food that involved ramen in it. When Sakura sat down, Hinata followed suit. Hinata ordered herself a bowl. She couldn't remember the last time she ate here, normally she would cook for herself and Sasuke when they were at his house. Speaking of which, the only time she stayed was when she cooked. In all honesty, she missed him.

"Look Hinata, i know things have been tense between us lately, especially since we both work at the hospital and i just want to say..-"

"Gomen, Sakura-san." She whispered, "I'm sorry for slapping you, it was inconsiderate of me and uncalled for."

Sakura shook her head, "What you did woke me up Hinata, you were right, i'm selfish."

"Sakura-san..."

"If there is something going on between you and Sasuke-kun, then i have no business prying." As Sakura said it, Hinata could sense her friend's hesitancy on the topic.

"Hai, there is." She admitted; Hinata told herself that she would fight for Sasuke. She may have lost Naruto, but she would try with all her might too have him by her side. If ever a day were to come that Sasuke wanted to leave, Hinata wouldn't stop him. She would take his leaving as a failure to herself.

"W-what?." Sakura studdered.

Hinata swallowed her fears, "We are seeing eachother."

'It can't be, Sasuke-kun and Hinata.' Sakura thought, "I'm happy for you Hinata." She lied.

Hinata caught her lie but brushed it off, "Arigatou, he's very kind."

"Kind?." Shock and disbelief showed as she said, "Sasuke-kun is not kind Hinata. He will hurt you, break your heart, then leave." Most of what she said was true, reason being, he left her for vengeance and never considered her feelings for him.

Hinata frowned, "He might not have been kind to you Sakura-san, but he is very kind and generous to me."

"No Hinata. It's in his nature to hurt people." She retorted.

"Your wrong." Hinata bit back, "Only people who don't know him would think such a thing. If you took the time to be a friend to him instead of proclaiming your love for him all the time, maybe you could see what i see."

Sakura lowered her eyes, "He never gave me a chance."

"That's because you used force."

"How would you know?."

"Because that's who you are. I might have been quiet during our academy days Sakura-san, and despite many of you knowing my eyes were always on Naruto-kun, i watched and listened to the many things involving you and Ino-san." Hinata turned in her seat so that she was facing Sakura, if this was going to be a confrontation, then face to face was appropriate.

"What do you mean?." Sakura hissed.

"You and Ino gave up a beautiful friendship to fight over a boy. You went to lengths to impress him, neglecting the fact that you had a wonderful person at your side the entire time. You hurt anybody and almost everybody to get Sasuke-kun, and yet in the end, he turned his back on you."

Sakura snapped, she raised a chakra pumped hand intending to cause harm upon Hinata, but Hinata was much faster and shockingly to Sakura, stronger. Hinata hit two vital points on Sakura's wrist, causing the pinkette's hand to slump to her side lifelessly. Sakura gritted her teeth, this was far from over. She raised her other hand this time, yet instead of hitting Hinata, she aimed for the ground they stood on. The building began to collapse around them and while Sakura escaped, Hinata went deeper inside to grab the chef and his daughter.

"Hakke Rokujuukaiten." Hinata yelled, stopping any debris or large objects from harming the two civilians behind her.

"Thankyou so much, Hyuuga-sama." The chef said.

The veins around Hinata's eyes faded; she looked briefly at him with a smile, "Gomen, it was my fault this happened."

"No, it was mine." Sakura growled, her left hand was blazing with chakra.

"If you'll excuse us." Hinata said to the two ramen owners.

She signalled to Sakura then took off into the direction of the villages main gates. This was now or never, if she was going to try with Sasuke, then she needed to make sure no one, not even Sakura was going to stand in her way. However somewhere deep down, Hinata wanted to see if all her training had paid off, and who better to test it on, but the one women who hated her most. They came to a gritting stop at least 50km away from the village, that way if Sakura decided to take things over the top, no one would get hurt. That was Sakura's problem Hinata noted, nothing and no one could stand in her way when she wanted something.

"I'm sorry it's come to this Hinata." Sakura muttered, her emerald eyes showed her lie and anguish.

"I want you to know Sakura-san, that i still want to be your friend no matter what today's outcome may be." Hinata said.

Sakura glared, Hinata seemed to blur and before her was an enemy, "Sasuke-kun is mine." She muttered.

"What's wrong?." Naruto asked as he brushed the dirt off of his clothes.

Sasuke fell to a knee and placed a hand on the ground. 'Hinata?.' He wearily thought.

Something was definately off. For Sasuke to be able to sense her all the way out in Mount Myoboku was a feat indeed. As his fight with Naruto grew more fierce, he felt his skin break out with goosebumps despite the temperature being so hot. Then when he performed a full body chidori on Naruto, which almost killed the blonde, the lightning on its own accord gave him a slight burn. At first Sasuke was shocked and angered that he stuffed up his technique, but then he thought about it during the fight and suddenly her face popped up into his mind. He knew he could never perform a jutsu wrong, and so decided it was a warning. Hinata was in trouble.

"Earth to teme." Naruto said waving his hands wildly in front of him.

Sasuke growled and beneath them the ground shook, "Go to her." He ordered.

Naruto's eye-brows knitted together, "What's going on Sasuke?." He asked, whatever was beneath them seconds ago, it was gone.

"I'm leaving." He said, "Do what you want, dobe."

Using Gamakichi without permission, Sasuke jumped onto the toads head then launched himself into the air before the toad could make a swipe at him. On his way up he was surrounded by a large puff of smoke. Curious, Naruto used Gamakichi the same way, much to the toads annoyance and was stunned when a large hawk came at him. Holding a hand out, Sasuke caught the blonde.

"I take it we're going back to the village?."

Sasuke ignored him.

"Kuchiyose no Jutsu." Sakura murmured.

On one knee, Hinata took a sharp intake of breath in. She didn't realise how far Sakura would go, but by summoning Katsuyu, it confirmed all she needed to know. The Sakura before her was not the kind and gentle friend she once knew.

"Katsuyu, your able to drain someone's chakra, right?." Sakura sneered.

Katsuyu flinched, she could sense something was very wrong here, "Does Lady Tsunade know of my summoning?."

"No, now answer my question, can you drain someone's cha..-."

"Gomen." Hinata cut in, "This is part of my training, Katsuyu-sama." Hinata said.

"Are you sure, Hyuuga-sama." She asked curiously.

She's worked with both girls before, Sakura mostly, but never had she been summoned like this. Nor did she want to abide by what Sakura had commanded of her. Katsuyu was a healer, not a fighter, or a killer. That is why she chose Tsunade and Sakura to be her master's, they mean't well when they fought. She respected them more when they went from ninja to healers, which is why Katusyu accepted them. But now, she was beginning to wonder if she made a mistake allowing Sakura to sign their contract. Without Sakura knowing, she allowed a tiny version of herself to go back to the village, she needed to get Tsunade.

"Hai." Hinata hoped her smile looked reassuring enough, "Your help is much appreciated."

Sakura grunted and jumped from Katsuyu's head. "Now, Katsuyu." She ordered.

Green light began pouring from the giant slug, "Gomen, Hyuuga-sama."

Instinctively, Hinata jumped away from Sakura's attack but she was unlucky when she was caught by Katsuyu's green chakra. She struggled slightly; she knew what Lady Katsuyu was capable of, so Hinata had to ask herself, why was the slug not draining her as quick as she should be. That's when Hinata clicked.

'Arigatou, Katsuyu-sama.' She thought. Sakura was coming at her again.

'You do what you must in order to survive.'

Gone were the many wise words given to her from her cousin, now all she could hear was the vicious but true words from Sasuke. "Hakke Kuushou." She cried. What seemed like nothing to Sakura, ended up being the opposite. She was flung back painfully by an unseen attack and caught by Katsuyu. Sakura screamed, she didn't know how many points in her body had been struck, but she figured many of the necessary ones she needed were blocked.

"Dammit." She cursed.

Katsuyu cringed, "Sakura-sama, i think..-"

"I don't need you to think right now." She growled.

The diamond Katsuyu was used to seeing on her previous master, was now seen on Sakura's forehead. Meaning Sakura had released it, allowing the reserved chakra she'd been storing to heal herself instantly.

"This won't take long, so keep her there, Katsuyu."

'Please hurry Tsunade-sama.' Katsuyu desperately thought.

Suddenly the ground exploded from beneath them and Sakura almost lost balance on top of Katsuyu's head.

"Your right indeed." The newcomer hissed, "This won't take long at all."

Katsuyu froze. 'Manda.' She thought.

Hinata didn't know whether to be thankful he was here or afraid. However, she was thankful that he freed her from Katsuyu's hold. Now one thing was left on her mind, would he catch her or let her fall.

"Your death..." He hissed as he caught her, "...would mean my own, again." He wrapped her lithe frame with his tail, ensuring not to harm her and with an unknown type of gentleness, coiled her with his chakra. Hinata almost felt like a baby being wrapped in a blanket, it was soothing to her body. Cuts and bruises healed instantly.

"Arigatou Manda-sama." She whispered with a bloody smile.

The snake, like his master, ignored her, however he couldn't shake the funny feeling that she was acting different. She was looking anywhere else apart from his eyes. Odd, she would normally look him in the eye. He decided to brush it off; he gave his undying attention to the medic bitch and the slug, "It's not like you to make pacts with vermin like her."

Sakura frowned, "What is he talking about?."

"What is your business here?." Katsuyu said changing the subject, she didn't want to anger Sakura anymore than she already was.

"Isn't it obvious slug, i was summoned." He smugly said, "You are a fool for letting this drag on. Pray he doesn't decapitate you, he is twisted enough to ensure you can't put yourself back together again."

The slug shivered at the thought while Sakura, undeterred by the snake stood, "Why didn't he come himself?."

"Quiet insolent girl." He growled, "It's time we finished this."

"Sakura-sama, we must retreat." Katsuyu warned.

Sakura snorted and tightened her only good gloved hand, "You can go, i'm going to get me a snake skin." She hissed.

"Hai, but be warned, Tsunade-sama is on her way." Katsuyu stated before disappearing in a puff of smoke.

'Damn you.' Sakura thought. She had to teach that Hyuuga a lesson, now. She dived.

"Selfish human." Manda said tossing Hinata high above him. He watched with glee as the girls moved in slow motion towards eachother. Whoever dealt the strongest blow would win this battle and the snake wanted to see who would come out the victor. He didn't know why they were fighting, nor did he care for it, he simply enjoyed watching humans harm themselves. They were nearing now, the pink bitch had her fist held back with a tremendous amount of chakra pulsating around it, whilst the Hyuuga, almost copying her had a lions head visible.

'This is for your balm, Hyuuga.' Manda thought. He opened his mouth slightly, then coughed out a black substance that he sent in there flem like slime did it's job perfectly; it distracted Sakura and forced her to dodge, thus giving Hinata a perfect shot.

"Juuho Soushiken." She shouted, hitting Sakura square in the left shoulder. Hinata didn't have it in her to hit a vital point, so she told herself wounding her would be best. Sakura cried out, the scream so loud animals of all sorts scattered throughout the forest. Not only that, it told the nearby newcomers where there position was.

"SAKURA-CHAN!." An all too familiar voice shouted. Said voice landed on a tree and caught her.

Manda would've done the same for her a second time, but it made sense that it was his master who did so instead. Manda secured them half-way down and as the obedient snake he'd become, lowered them to the ground. Hinata turned her head away hurriedly, she began coughing up blood.

Manda cringed, "You fought well."

The veins in her eyes receeded and Hinata glanced up at him, "Arigatou Manda-sama, you were a big help."

"I should kill her." Sasuke cut in quietly; Manda visibly flinched, he knew what misery came with that voice.

Hinata held her hand out, almost as if she was looking for him. Sasuke's eyes narrowed confusedly toward her. "Hyuuga?." He queried.

Manda's eyes widened a fraction. So his mind wasn't playing tricks on him, back then when she thanked him for rescuing her, she wasn't looking into his eyes because she didn't want too, it was because she couldn't.

"How long?." Sasuke said, he grasped the hand that searched for him.

"Ten minutes max, if i'd gone any longer i'd be permanently..-"

"Blind." Sasuke answered for her, he pulled her tight to him, "Idiot." He snapped, her heartbeat matched his own.

Hinata sighed, it felt good to be held by him again, "Gomen."

"Hinata-sama!."

Sasuke glared at the short haired women as she slowly approached, "She's fine." He lied.

"We don't know that for sure..-"

"I'm fine Shizune-san, i normally go blind after using the Byakugan for so long." Hinata cut in, "I just need to..-"

Before she could finished her sentence she collapsed, her body had finally given out on her, funny really, she'd never felt so exhausted in her life. The last thing Hinata remembered before passing out was the sound of angry lightning erupting all around her.

"Hinata?." He whispered, shaking her alittle. He hadn't mean't for his chidori to come out as it did, but it seemed the perfect way to vent some anger. Her laying in his arms, bleeding, and with a look close to death had Sasuke seeing his dying family all over again.

"It's to be expected Sasuke-kun, fighting against an opponent like Sakura can do that to a person." Shizune tried to reason.

"Manda." He said, his hair covered his eyes.

Manda straightened up as best as he could, "Do you want me to kill the medic bitch?." He hopefully asked.

"Take us back to Konoha, now."

Manda didn't need to be told twice, he opened his mouth wide enough for Sasuke and the unconscious Hinata to fit in. Sasuke glared at the older women as he stood on the snakes tongue, Shizune reflectively stepped back in fear of him, especially now since his Mangekyou Sharingan was showing. His whole demeanor looked crazed, psychotic.

"Tell Naruto this..." He said lowly, discarding the fact that his right eye started bleeding, "Tell him, however long it takes Hinata to fully recover, will be how long Sakura will suffer for."

Afraid, Shizune took another step back, "W-what do you mean?."

"You'll see." He said with a sickening smile, "Let's go, Manda."

"What the hell?." Naruto muttered, looking down at his teammate, Sasuke's chidori could be seen from miles away.

"Why? Sakura." Tsunade muttered, she couldn't care less about the Uchiha right now.

Sakura turned her head away, she didn't want to speak about it. All she could think of was how it was Naruto that came to stand by her side and not Sasuke. There eyes met briefly before he went to Hinata, that must've been something, surely he was a bit concerned for her wellbeing as well. All thoughts of him suddenly vanished as Shizune came to meet them on the tree top.

"Tsunade-sama, i have bad news." She said, panic evident in her voice.

"What is it?."

"Hinata-sama, she's blind."

Naruto's eyes widened, "What?."

"Not only that." Shizune said, she locked eyes with Sakura, "This message was more for Naruto."

Sakura frowned, if the message was for Naruto, then why was Shizune still looking at her. Shizune continued, "He said however long it takes Hinata to fully recover, will be how long Sakura will suffer for."

Sakura was about to retort, until something strong pulled her into some type of vortex like place. It took her a while to get her bearings, but once she did, she took in her surroundings. Suddenly she realised she was nailed to a cross. Alittle panicked, she looked around some more. In front of her was a clear view of where she should be at this precise moment. Right now she was looking at herself with a hysterical Naruto shaking her. Then there was Tsunade who was performing handsigns. Focusing, Sakura managed to lip read what Tsunade said to a distressed Shizune.

"Tsukuyomi."

Sakura's heart sunk, "Genjutsu." She whispered fearfully.

"You hurt her." His cold voice echoed.

"S-sasuke...-." She whimpered.

Sasuke appeared with three identical replicas of himself, "This is for her."

"P-please...i-i...-"

"Every second that goes by in the real world, will feel like days in here." He hissed, they all pulled their katanas out, "I'm going to make you wish you never hurt her."

Sakura screamed as the blade went straight through her heart.