Okay, so I went ahead and updated, I was only one away from 15 and I'm dying from the suspense of writing this chapter. So... next time I'm requesting 18 (that's only 4 away from what I have already so pleeeeeease guys! 20+ will get you two chapters in a single day!

Oh yeah, and a special thanks to those who did review!

..::In for a Shock::..

It being the crack of dawn, not many people were roaming around town as Sasuke made his way towards the Hokage's building. He pushed through the double doors, not bothering to ease them closed, the loud bang giving warning that someone was on there way.

An Anbu stepped forward, appearing out of nowhere, "And what business do you have here?"

Sasuke, unperturbed, said, "I request a meeting with the Third Hokage"

The Anbu, slightly annoyed, replied, "Look kid, not everyone who comes in here can automatically talk to the Hokage. He's a very busy man."

That didn't stop Sasuke, "It's important."

"Who do you think you are anyways?" Frustrating little runt...

"Uchiha Sasuke"

The Anbu was dumbstruck for a moment, but recovered fast. Considering who the kid was, he felt he should let him through, "Go ahead."

And with that, the masked figure walked down the corridor towards the Hokage's office, Sasuke following.

..::::..

The Hokage was busy at his desk, one hand stroking his white goatee, the other tracing the writing on the scroll he was reading. He looked up when he sensed a presence behind his door. Before the person could ask to be let in, he called out, "Enter."

The Anbu stepped in first, "There is somewhere here who wishes to speak with you." And then he disappeared, leaving Sasuke and the old man in the room.

"Have a seat" he said with a wave of his hand. "What brings a young man such as yourself here, this early in the day?" he inquired with a warm smile.

"I need to speak with you about Haruno Sakura."

The man cringed at the name 'Haruno'. Sasuke noticed.

"What about her, lad?" he inquired gruffly.

"Her father. He has been abusing his wife and daughter for some time now..." Sasuke let the sentence hang, seeing the Hokage's face.

"Why that is preposterous!" he yelled, standing and slamming his hands on his desk, leaning forward to intimidate the boy.

Sasuke's eyes widened a little in shock, but he recovered his usual emotionless mask.

"Listen here, Uchiha" he spat the name, "Haruno-sama is very good business man. He brings a lot of money into Konoha, a lot more than you or I ever could in a lifetime. I have will not have you defiling his name." He sat back down, straightening his hat, outbursts of anger were unusual for him, but this was important. "Do you understand?"

Sasuke glared, but said nothing.

"Young man..."

"Yes." Sasuke said, abruptly standing up and leaving.

He watched as the door closed, tense with worry.

The Hokage hated to do this to a sweet little girl and such a kind woman, but Konoha would crumble without the funds that Haruno-baka brought in. Well, this is why we pushed her to become a ninja after all, in better hopes that she could take care of herself. He sighed and slumped back into his chair. Now he needed to find out how many people knew, for if too many found out, there could be no good outcome.

..::On his way to Sakura's::..

Sasuke understood what the Hokage really meant. He was a little shocked that they would overlook it though, even with the amounts of money the man probably brought in.

This meant that there was no help for Sakura and her mother, for there was no one to push her father to stop.

Sasuke sighed, what was he supposed to do now?

What didn't cross Sasuke's mind was that the Hokage would more than likely want him silenced.

..::Sakura::..

Sakura woke up in pain from being manhandled the night before. Her ankles stung and throbbed as they hit the floor. She stood, preparing for her day.

She started off with a hot shower, paying special attention to scrubbing her lips, trying to wash off the dirty feeling of incest. When her shower was over, she dressed in casual, civilian clothing, consisting of a baby yellow t-shirt and brown kapri pants with her usual blue sandles. She didn't even bother to put on her weapons pouch or headband. She did tie a red bow in her hair to keep it out of her face.

She didn't want to walk downstairs, but her ankles were too weak to go out the window. So down the stairs she went, and into the living room. She looked over to the bar, seeing her mother in the kitchen, sipping coffee with her dad. She was angry and afraid so she walked out of the house, closing the door behind her.

She was on her way to Ichiraku ramen for breakfast, where, unsurprisingly, she found Naruto.

"Hi Sakura!" he yelled, two bar-stools away from her.

"Shut up Naruto, your going to make people deaf." she grumbled back. Even though she wasn't all that nice to him, Sakura really did consider Naruto a friend.

He bounced over to the bar-stool next to her, "So..." He fidgeted a little, uncomfortable but happy with Sakura next to him.

"Hmm?" she acknowledged him, having already received her ramen and slurping it from between her chopsticks.

"Well I was wondering if..." his face was pink by now, but before he could finish, Ichiraku himself stepped forward with a platter gracing two steaming bowls of the house special.

"For the lovely couple, on the house" he said with a grin, placing the platters on the bar.

Both Naruto and Sakura blushed a bright red. Sakura turned to Naruto, her bangs obscuring her eyes.

"Naruto."

"Yes...?" he replied sheepishly. He knew this wouldn't be good.

"We. Are. Not. A. Couple. Nor, will we EVER BE!"

People outside of the booth turned to look that way, wondering what was going on.

Naruto was frozen.

Sakura slapped her money on the red bar before stomping out of the booth with a death glare.

Naruto looked up, "..." then, "More for me!" He contently gorged himself on free ramen.

..::Sasuke::..

He had by now made it back to Sakura's, but the first thing he noticed was that he didn't sense her chakra. So he walked on, figuring he'd run into her eventually.

And he did. He found her at the training ground where they had officially been initiated as Team 7. It was there that she was pummeling a log.

"Sakura" he said to get her attention. She turned around, looking at him, then at the log, then back at him.

"H-hi Sasuke-kun" she said with a big fake smile.

"Sakura, I need to tell you what the Hokage said."

"Oh yeah...So when are they coming?"

He raised an eyebrow.

"To get my dad I mean" she looked miserably at the ground. It was a lose/lose situation. Either her father leaves her and her heart-broken-mother, or he stays and beats them for the rest of his years.

"They won't be."

She looked up with a mildly shocked expression.

Sasuke was looking over her shoulder, "Apparently your father has influence over money income in Konoha and they can't afford to lose him. Literally."

Sakura, fully shocked now, "So they know that he's beating us? And they're still willing to let him stay?" She was incredulous.

"And have known, from what I gather. Yeah, he's worth too much to the village."

Sakura felt sick. How could they do this? What kind of sick bastards ran the place?

"I'm going to give them a piece of my mind!" she said, stomping in the direction of the building.

Sasuke grabbed her arm, "That's not a good idea."

Her eyes widened, "Why? Did they threaten you?"

That's when it dawned on Sasuke they might try to keep him quiet.

"Hn"

She stood in front of him now, "Sasuke, I don't want you to get hurt for my sake." Ugh! Look what's started? All because I allowed someone to find out...

Sasuke looked at the pink haired girl, who was not looking at the ground, tears welling up in her eyes.

He sighed.

"Sakura"

She didn't look up, the tears were spilling over. Stupid, stupid me. It's all my fault. She bullied herself with her thoughts.

Sasuke put his hand under her chin and lifted her face, silently commanding her to look at him.

"Sakura, I got myself involved in this. If I wanted to, I could get myself out." He looked at her seriously.

"Arigoto Sasuke-kun" Sakura said, her sea-green eyes huge with thanks and tears.

Sasuke inwardly smirked. She really was kind-of pretty...

"Hn" he replied.

Then, "I'm going to go train" He started walking off with his hands in his pockets. When he realized she wasn't following him, he called over his shoulder, "Are you coming or what?"

She looked down, a sad smile plastered to her face, though he couldn't see it, "No. I didn't bring any of my equipment, I planned on just relaxing today."

He didn't want to leave her alone, helpless, were her dad to some how find her.

"Come on." he said. "You can practice jutsu or sit under a tree."

She ran up, but before she could say anything, he said, "I'm the only one here that knows and is willing to help you were your father to hurt you Sakura. You can't walk around defenseless. You always need to have some sort of melee weapon."

"Okay" she nodded.

Then continued their walk to the training field near the Uchiha compound in silence.

How was that? Next chapter is the Cherry Blossom Katana, and will probably be short. Which also means, I'll probably update soon! But, I am holding you guys to 18 reviews!

PM me if you notice any mistakes, I write these things at like one-o-clock in the morning and am a little out of it :p