"Fight me, right now," Sasuke demanded out of the blue from Natsumi who was just paying him a visit in the hospital with Sakura. When Sakura offered him a plate of cut apples, he suddenly slapped it out of her hands for no apparent reason.

"Huh? What are you saying? You've just been treated by Tsunade-baa-chan," Natsumi told him.

"I don't care! Just fight me!" he got even angrier to the point of activating his Sharingan. "You think you saved me? I don't care if she's the Fifth Hokage... Doing unnecessary things...!"

"What?" she was surprised at his complete lack of gratitude. She knew Sasuke was not a social person but he had never been that bad as to not be grateful even if he never showed or spoke his thanks.

"You said once before that you wanted to fight me, didn't you? I said I'd fight you right here and now. Or are you afraid?" he goaded her.

"S-Sasuke-kun, what's wrong? Natsumi, say something! Why so suddenly...?" Sakura was very uncomfortable with the atmosphere around both her team-mates.

"Perfect timing, I was just itching to fight you!" Natsumi answered Sasuke with a confident smirk, not backing down from his challenge.

"Why don't the both of you just cut it out, okay?" Sakura tried to appeal but neither of them paid her any mind.

"Follow me," Sasuke gestured with his head as he left his hospital room. He led her to the rooftop where clean white sheets were being hung to dry. It would have sufficed as a impromptu sparring field if not for those sheets but he did not care for them.

'What's with this feeling? The bottom of my stomach is twitching. And, it's giving me a thrill,' Natsumi hid her questionable discomfort from Sasuke as she smirked at him from their short staring contest.

"What's so funny?" he asked.

"Nothing's funny. I'm excited," she replied. "To think that I can finally beat you in a fight."

"What? Cut the nonsense, you drop-out!" He had heard that ridiculous declaration of hers plenty of times in the Academy whenever they were paired up during spars, but somehow this time it infuriated him rather than him just brushing it off as nonsense like before.

"I won't be anyone's burden nor be a drop-out forever," she told him, the determination in her eyes only further angering him.

"Why are you so full of yourself!"

"Ha! You, who's always been so cool-headed, is talking more than usual. That's not like you. Could it be that you're scared despite the fact that you picked the fight, Sasuke?" she turned his provocations around, taunting him instead.

"Whatever, let's get started," he ended the banter.

"Before that, put on your hitai-ate," she requested. "I'll wait."

"I won't need it," he said.

"I don't care. Just put it on!"

"You won't even be able to scratch my forehead."

"That's not what I mean! The Konoha hitai-ate is proof that we are fighting evenly," she clarified, tugging the hitai-ate she hung around her neck.

"That's what I mean when I say you're full of yourself!" he snapped. "You think that you and I are equals?"

"Yes, we are! I've never thought myself as any lower than you."

"You're an eyesore!"

"Am I!"

"Natsumi/Sasuke!" they both yelled out each other's name as a battle cry and threw a punch which both blocked. Sasuke lashed out with a kick but his leg was grabbed. He felt himself get lifted off the ground in preparation to being tossed but he stopped Natsumi's momentum by twisting himself into a handstand position and mule-kicking her away with his free foot. He rushed towards where she would land and lashed out with a flurry of punches which she defended fine against until he caught her off-guard with a kick to her side, knocking her into the sheets. When he chased after her for a follow-up, he noticed she was nowhere near where the sheets fell. He jumped high backwards as a precaution, using his Sharingan to see if anything was amiss. His dojutsu alerted him to a figure standing at his peripheral vision and he saw Natsumi standing on a water tanker and being perfectly fine. Unfortunately for him, she was standing directly in the path of the sunlight so he was momentarily blinded when he turned his head to look at her fully which allowed her to punch him in mid-air.

"Don't be so overconfident!" he yelled in fury even as he recovered gracefully on the top of the fence and chased after her again. She was not expecting him to recover so quickly and took a punch of her own, knocking her back down to the hospital roof. She tried using the sheets that were still standing for cover as she tried to gain distance but he was faster than her and caught her with a kick, entangling her with one. While she was covered, he delivered heavy punches to her, channelling his anger in each punch until she had enough and kicked him away.

"Cut it out already!" she snapped as she pursued him, meeting him in mid-air for a very brief exchange of blows which none landed on the other. "Tajuu Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" she took the chance to summon a hoard of clones to completely encircle him. Unlike the time with Neji where the clones took him on one by one until he had enough, this time the clones charged Sasuke simultaneously. It got her the same result as back then. She had always known Sasuke was her better at taijutsu but she did not expect him to handle her clones just as well as Neji did. When he performed his Shishi Rendan to take out a dozen clones, she saw an opening. Her clones saw that same opening and four of them quickly made up a combo with each other with simple eye contact and a nod. She remembered that he copied some of his technique's movements from Lee. Copying him would drive home the point to him that, yes, she was perfectly capable of standing toe to toe with him. The moment he landed, his eyes widened in surprise when four clones came sliding in from underneath the legs of the still massive number of clones. His Sharingan had missed them because they were hidden among themselves.

"U!"

"Zu!"

"Ma!"

"Ki!"

The four clones called out the syllables of Natsumi's family name and together kicked Sasuke skywards. Although he blocked their kicks, they accomplished their goal of making him airborne. All that was left was for the original to deliver the finishing touches which she did by jumping higher than Sasuke.

"Natsumi Rendan!" Natsumi cried out the last part of the hastily made-up combo, falling towards him with a massive heel drop. Unfortunately, Sasuke managed to spot her and blocked her attack with his elbow as he spun around while making seals. She managed to spot the last hand seal he made and recognized he was about to use a Katon jutsu.

"Katon: Goukyaku no Jutsu!" Sasuke called out his own jutsu and breathed out a humongous wave of fire, completely engulfing the roof with flames and rapidly destroying the clones. As he was doing that, Natsumi noticed he had completely taken his attention off her. He was not even glancing at her to make sure she was not up to something.

'Now's my chance!' Natsumi knew why Sasuke thought she could do nothing to him after parrying her heel drop and pushing her back further into the sky and away from him. Any ninja worth at least the rank of Genin could recognize the whizzing sound of thrown kunai and shuriken even among loud noises and if she threw them, he would know. Other than those, anyone who had trained Natsumi or watched her fight believed that those mentioned weapons were her only ranged options. With the exception of Hinata, absolutely no-one knew she actually had another option for ranged combat. It was silent too, provided she did not call out the name of the technique she was using. And that was exactly what she did.

As Sasuke was exterminating the mass of clones, he never knew what hit him square in the back, sending him crashing onto the hospital roof and into the midst of his own flames, burning him as well. His anger renewed at Natsumi's audacity to hit him, unwilling to admit even to himself that she had enough skill to actually land an attack on him, let alone several times by this point in the fight. Clouded by his rage, he performed the strongest attack he knew, determined to take down Natsumi.

"Chidori!" his rage-filled voice and the chirping of electricity was heard even among the sound of flames. The power behind the Chidori snuffed away the flames of his previous jutsu, revealing his figure.

"What the hell are you doing? There's no need to go that far!" Natsumi, who was standing a safe distance away from the largest flames, exclaimed. "We're not trying to kill each other!"

"Damn you! Don't get cocky!" he yelled, the electricity in his hand sparking even brighter.

"Shit! He's not listening to me!" she cursed as she made another clone and prepared a Rasengan to counter the Chidori.

'What is that jutsu?' Sasuke's rage cleared just enough for him to acknowledge that it was a jutsu he had never seen before and that it was dangerous because it was made of pure, visible-to-the-naked-eye chakra. Whatever it was, it would not stop him from defeating Natsumi. With that belief in mind, he charged towards her.

"I won't lose!" she shouted to him as he drew closer, ready to meet his attack and possibly overwhelm it.

"Stop it!" They suddenly heard Sakura's scream. In the heat of their battle, they did not notice that Sakura had been watching the entire time and was now running towards them in a desperate attempt to get them to stop their fighting.

'Crap... I can't stop...' Sasuke had too much momentum for him to make a sudden stop.

"Sakura?" Natsumi exclaimed, finally noticing her. Looking at her running towards them, seemingly to get in between them, and looking at Sasuke again, she realized Sasuke could not stop in time to avoid impaling Sakura. 'What do I do? What do I do!' she panicked, not knowing what to do with her Rasengan either. Fortunately, Kakashi's timely arrival answered her question. Sasuke, and surprisingly herself as well, were thrown towards the two water tankers on top of the hospital roof to stop their deadly attacks. She vaguely heard Kakashi reprimanding Sasuke on the opposite tanker as she regained her bearings, having slammed her head hard against the steel when she was thrown. She watched Kakashi console a crying Sakura quietly, trying to sort her own thoughts now that her adrenaline had died down.

Thinking back, she was surprised when Sasuke challenged her to a fight. Excitement quickly bubbled in her, making her look forward to sparring with him. At least, she thought it was a spar. It turned out to be a full-blown fight after he got really furious about her normal declarations that she was on par with him. He ignored them all the time when they were in the Academy, yet this time it angered him to the point of wanting to use the Chidori against her. A few years ago, she would be glad if she managed to even keep up with him. And now that she did, she felt conflicted. She called him her rival before, and now that she was strong enough to actually be a rival instead of spouting empty boasts, she did not know what to think. Part of her was proud that she finally caught up to Sasuke, but the other part just noticed that it was worsening Team 7's relationship with each other. It saw the resemblance between Sasuke and her, and Sakura and Ino. Sakura and Ino had ruined their friendship over a stupid rivalry for Sasuke's affections, and now Sasuke was seriously pissed off that her fighting skills was starting to rival his.

A sudden moment of clarity nearly made her panic on the spot. She no longer wanted her self-proclaimed rivalry with Sasuke anymore because it was starting to destroy their friendship, and she did not want to lose that. Why had she been trying so hard to earn his genuine acknowledgement? If anyone had asked her before her graduation, she would boastfully claim that she would make him see that she was indeed his rival. Now? She could not find an answer. Why wasn't she satisfied when she had gained camaraderie with him and Sakura during their time together as Team 7? Wasn't having friends proof enough that someone had genuinely acknowledged her? Wasn't that what she wanted all along? Being acknowledged? Didn't someone already acknowledge her existence from the bottom of her heart? In her chase to get Sasuke to acknowledge her as his rival, had she completely forgotten about Hinata? She knew she had a one-track mind when it came to certain things, such as ramen and training. But she had never placed any of her friends before them. She would stop slurping down her ramen and stop her training if any of them needed her help. She would admit to having a one-track mind when it came to chasing after Sasuke after some thought. But to forget about Hinata during it, of all people? That realization made her physically sick.

With a haunted look in her eyes, she jumped off the tanker and made her way unsteadily to Kakashi and Sakura. Seeing how unsteady and pale she was, they thought she had been injured. Instead, she just pushed past them and headed straight to a drainage where she promptly threw up in it. Getting even more worried because of that, they went to her side as she dry-heaved.

"I'll be fine. Just... leave me alone..." Natsumi brushed them off as she staggered away to the roof door. She needed some time to be alone, something she thought she would never ever need. She dragged her feet as she made her way home, pointedly ignoring Jiraiya who seemed to be waiting for her. She was in no mood to talk to anyone, so she was a little grateful when he did not try to stop her for conversation.

***Break Line***

Sakura had a horrible gut feeling ever since her other two team-mates fought each other at the hospital, so she waited at the only exit out of Konoha if one was to walk. As she suspected, Sasuke was walking down that road with a backpack. It was a clear sign that he was leaving the village, possibly defecting to Orochimaru. She was almost certain he was. Her voice only allowed her to ask him why he did not speak to her about his concerns and problems. He shut her down immediately by replying that he had no reason to tell her anything. It was none of her business and she should stop concerning herself about what he did. Although hurt by his words and tears trailing down her cheeks, she fought not to sob. She tried pleading to his emotions, bringing up the day Team 7 was made and how she incurred his hate by making fun of Natsumi's orphaned status. He claimed he did not remember, but she knew he actually did and only said that to get her off his back. However, she would not give up just yet. She played along with his answer, saying that it was quite a long time ago. She continued retelling him about their time as Team 7. They completed many missions together and despite the difficulties, she had fun with them. She told him revenge against the killer of his clan would bring no-one happiness, not even to him or her.

"Just as I thought. I'm different from you guys. I walk a different path than you guys," he said. He admitted that he tried to do things their way. They did a lot of things together, but his heart decided on revenge in the end. "That's my purpose in life. I can't become like you or Natsumi."

"Are you choosing to be alone again?" she asked. "On that day, you taught me that solitude is painful! I understand that so well right now. I have a family, and have friends, but if you're gone... To me... It'll be the same as being alone!"

"From here on, a new path will open for all of us," he said. Sakura ignored his words, pouring all her emotion into her next sentences. She declared that she loved him and if he stayed, he would not regret anything. Everyday would be fun for him. They would definitely be happy. She would do anything for him, and begged him to stay with her. She would help with his revenge. Even if she did not know how to help, she would do something for him to aid him in his goal. If he did not want to stay, then she would go with him. He only had one response for her. "You really are annoying."

Before she could plead with him any further, he Shunshin-ed behind her.

"First of all, nothing you can feel right now can even compare to true solitude. If I'm gone, the loneliness you feel is the same as mine? Don't joke around. You learned nothing that day. You don't understand solitude. If I stayed, there's no guarantee that what you're saying will come true. From the way you were talking, you only want me to stay for you. So what's in it for me? Empty promises? And you helping me with my revenge? You are the weakest ninja I have ever seen or heard of. Your improvements don't even compare to everyone else's. Why should I take you along with me? You don't know an inkling about me or my feelings except for what is common knowledge. You didn't even try to understand me. All you did was admire me. Let me tell you this: Admiration is the furthest emotion from understanding. The person closest to understanding me is Natsumi. If anyone could convince me that they understood my pain, it'll be her. And if she said the same things you just said to me, I might have taken her along. But Sakura," he punched her in her stomach just enough to knock her unconscious. He was displeased at how little it took to disable the girl in front of him, even if she was not on her guard. "Thank you for your heart-felt feelings," he thanked her for her genuine offer of love and friendship, though he believed none of what she said would happen if he stayed. He deposited her on the bench before making his way of the village.

***Break Line***

Natsumi could not believe it. Sasuke had left the village for Orochimaru? She was out of her pyjamas and got ready for the mission in five minutes. Shikamaru dug his pinky finger into one ear to block out her yelling when he complained about how they wasted two minutes just for her to brush away her bed-hair and to tie it into her signature twin-tails. He had always thought she was a tomboy, but it turned out even she had her feminine side. Tsunade had tasked Shikamaru to find exceptional Genins as members for the mission to retrieve Sasuke, and Natsumi was to be brought along. The first member Shikamaru picked was Chouji, who she doubted could be considered exceptional. He reasoned that he needed someone who knew him well. She argued that Shino was more suited as 'exceptional', but Kiba who just happened to pass by because he was walking Akamaru, overheard them and told them that Shino was away on a special mission with his father. He was recruited into the team just like that much to her annoyance. The final member they picked up happened to be Neji, which Natsumi had no objections to. He was exceptional as exceptional got. They stopped at the village gates to go through the strategy Shikamaru had to retrieve Sasuke. He expected Natsumi to raise some sort of fuss, but she was paying rapt attention to him.

"You don't have any objections, Natsumi?" Shikamaru asked halfway through his explanations.

"You don't look reliable, but if Tsunade-baa-chan believes you are, then I'll trust you," Natsumi answered.

"Well, I can't say that I'm satisfied being ordered around by Shikamaru who doesn't seem to be into doing this," Kiba said.

"But Shikamaru is a Chuunin now. We must follow his orders. It means that the village head has acknowledged that he is a capable leader," Chouji supported his friend.

"Well, let's get down to it. Continue your explanations," Neji had no issues with Shikamaru being their leader as well, who finished up the strategy meeting.

Just before they left, they were stopped by Sakura.

"Sakura?" Natsumi exclaimed. Did Tsunade send her as well?

"I already heard about it from Hokage-sama. Sorry, but I can't take you on this mission," Shikamaru told her. "Not even you were able to convince Sasuke, right? So there's no choice but for us to use force to persuade him to come back to us. Sakura, your job is done."

"That means... Sakura, did you talk to Sasuke just before he left?" she asked. Sakura did not answer her, instead hanging her head and letting her tears fall.

"Natsumi... This is the only favour I will ever ask of you... Bring... Bring Sasuke-kun back," Sakura spoke through her tears. "I couldn't convince him. I couldn't stop him. I'm sure the only person who can stop him... The only person who can save him is... Natsumi... Only you!"

"Of course we're bringing Sasuke back. You don't have to ask like that," Natsumi replied uncomfortably.

"Please, promise me, Natsumi... Please make this promise of a lifetime... for me..."

"Definitely, I pro-"

"Do not make this promise, Natsumi," Neji interrupted her.

"Wha... Neji?" Natsumi was surprised at Neji's words. Everyone else was just as surprised.

"Are you attempting to bind Natsumi to a task that could potentially kill all of us?" he asked Sakura sternly.

"Hey, Neji! Cut it out! This isn't the time to antagonize Sakura!" she leapt to Sakura's defence.

"Save your judgement of me for later, Natsumi. Just listen to what I have to say first," he told her before staring down Sakura. "Sakura, we are not retrieving a kidnapped person. We are retrieving a defector. We are in high danger of being ambushed as we pursue Sasuke and as Shikamaru pointed out, we might even die. Even if Natsumi grants you this promise, there is no guarantee we will succeed. If we fail and we still live, Natsumi will be chained down by you due to the failed promise, perhaps even for the rest of her life. You should know that Natsumi does not take back her words as it is her ninja way. And frankly speaking, Sakura, you do not have the right to make promises of a lifetime with her. I overheard Kakashi-sensei's assessment of you during the Chuunin Exam. I don't know about Natsumi, but I do not trust your sincerity at this moment. Do not use Hinata-sama's own words for yourself to secure such a promise from Natsumi. My duty is to protect Hinata-sama, and this promise of yours will put a burden on Natsumi that might never be erased. Hinata-sama will constantly worry over her and Natsumi will become a burden for Hinata-sama in turn as well. I care not for how you settle your problems, but I will not allow this promise to be made."

Sakura had no words to say to prove her sincerity. She knew she was helpless in this situation. If Neji had overheard Kakashi calling her out as a bully, of course it would appear to him that she was forcing Natsumi into making a promise only for her benefit. That in turn would undoubtedly affect Hinata negatively, and that would trouble him.

"Do you understand what I'm trying to say, Natsumi?" Neji turned to address Natsumi. "Do not carelessly make promises that belittles your friendship with Hinata-sama. I am not telling you that you should not help Sakura, but to watch yourself. I do not want you to mistakenly cause great worry for Hinata-sama. You know how she is."

"I understand," Natsumi answered, looking very conflicted. It took her a while to come to a decision before looking at Sakura with great determination. "We'll put our lives on the line to bring Sasuke back. That much I can promise you."

"Natsumi... Thank you...!" Sakura was overwhelmed by Natsumi's kindness, something she had always overlooked because of Natsumi's often childish and foolish antics. Her own impulsive violent reactions only blinded her further. Sasuke was right. If she could not see Natsumi, who was as open as a book, for who she was, how could she ever understand Sasuke? All she could do was pray for the success of their mission to bring Sasuke back to Konoha.

***End of Chapter***

Differences

The fight at the hospital roof.

Canon: Sasuke held the advantage over Naruto for majority of the fight until Naruto performs the Rasengan, which provokes him into performing the Chidori.

My version: They are roughly even with each other until a sneak attack by Natsumi utilizing the Hakke Kuushou provokes him into performing the Chidori, which she then performs the Rasengan to defend herself with.

After the fight.

Canon: Naruto is depressed as he ponders over how to get Sasuke's acknowledgement as an equal and a rival.

My version: Natsumi quickly catches her desires for said acknowledgement until she remembers that she doesn't need that much of it because Hinata is already filling that void in her heart. She also realizes that she is losing her friendship with Sasuke for said rivalry. Her one-track mind when it comes to catching up to him is bad enough for her to momentarily forget Hinata's existence in her life and she is scared of that.

Sakura's attempt to get Sasuke to stay in Konoha.

Canon: She pours her heart out to him to no avail and gets knocked out so she would not chase after him.

My version: Same, but Sasuke has more things to say to her because he knows that if a certain something happened to the person Natsumi cares the most for was caused by anyone she trusted, she would be completely in the same boat as him. While Naruto is the direct opposite to Sasuke, Natsumi is closer to being like Sasuke if that certain something happened.

Just before the squad leaves for the mission to retrieve Sasuke.

Canon: Sakura stops them to plead to Naruto who gives her a promise of a lifetime to bring back Sasuke. He also understands the pain she is feeling perfectly. She loved Sasuke but was rejected, just like how Naruto loved Sakura but was rejected.

My version: Sakura's pleading remains the same but Natsumi cannot sympathize with Sakura about her broken heart. Natsumi isn't in romantic love with anyone, not even Hinata. The line between best friends and a couple is only just beginning to blur for the both of them. Neji stops Sakura from making Natsumi give her a promise of a lifetime because he can easily tell what troubles would likely happen to both Natsumi and Hinata. Therefore, Natsumi makes a compromise which Sakura gratefully accepts.

Extra Scene: I made Sasuke go more in-depth as to why he still finds Sakura annoying even after she poured her heart out to him. At this point in time, even though her feelings of love for him are genuine, she doesn't understand Sasuke. To him, all her promises are empty. Pre-time skip, she is by far the worst ninja among all her peers. Sasuke should logically know this since he did point out that Naruto/Natsumi was better than her at some point in time before, so her promise to aid him in his revenge is just hot air to him. Also, a certain quote from an anime with the same name as a detergent just seemed to fit right in here. As stated on one of the differences above, he knows Natsumi is just a step away from going through exactly what he did after the massacre of his clan.

***Break Line***

I'll keep this Arc short and sweet. The next chapter is the climax and the aftermath.

Yes, I have finally found a chapter to actually add in the Uzumaki Natsumi Rendan! Some chapters ago, I claimed that the Hakke Kuushou would replace the Rendan, but I also said I would keep it in reserve. The hospital fight is what I felt to be the best time to let it out. I only said that the Hakke Kuushou would replace the Rendan because it can be used more liberally. Natsumi isn't going to spam it, but she's not above using it as a sneak attack if she believes no-one's looking. Her Juuken skills are meant to be secret to as many people as possible, remember?

Here's another change to canon. Because Natsumi is best friends with Hinata, Neji takes it upon himself to watch over Natsumi as well, even if it's only to prevent Hinata from worrying about her reckless behaviour. That means Natsumi is closer to Neji than Naruto is. I might do something with this if it tickles my fancy. In canon, Neji merely supports Hinata's efforts to chase after Naruto, but since Natsumi and Hinata are already together here, he's watching out for Natsumi for Hinata's sake if he has the opportunity. That includes potentially chaining herself to a promise that she might not be able to keep.

I look forward to getting more readers who like this story. Do Follow/Favourite/Review this story, and big thanks to those who are kind enough to do so!