A/N: Hello! Here's an update. And I have to warn you guys that it'll probably confuse you at some extent because the characters here will also be confused. So it'll probably hard to distinguish things but I assure you things will fall to the right places at the right time. They can't go understanding everything at once. So it's very hard to juggle between those lines. So I apologize for some of you who are utterly confuse and will be confused. (bows)

I will answer questions though PM because honestly I don't like writing very long author notes. It spoils too much fun (winks).

As for updates, I'll update as fast as I can.

Disclaimer: Naruto, I do not own you. (Wish I could marry one of the characters though).

Chapter II

Sasuke was a man of perfection. His flawless skin makes fan girls go gaga over him. To see his god-like face reduced to a bloody pulp would probably make one scream and faint. Unfortunately for Sasuke, he was wearing one today. Naruto beat the living daylight out of him. Seriously beat the living daylight out of him.

"And that's for breaking Sakura-chan's heart again teme!" Naruto yelled at him, his voice full of anger.

Sasuke was so confused. He would have wanted to ask why the hell was he beaten up when he did not break Sakura's heart and how did his shy best friend turned into a loud and super strong ninja, if only he could speak. But his ability to create speech was unusable for the time being as his face was in damaged condition.

"You asshole, to think I thought that you would never make her cry again. I should have known better. I swear the next time you hurt her, no there wont be a next time, got it?!" Naruto warned him. That kind of warning not to be taken lightly.

All Sasuke could do is nod. He did not have any other choice than to play along. If he denied his wish any longer Naruto would still beat him to a pulp which he would love to stop right now. He took a mental note not to piss Naruto again. He could be very scary. Very.

"Naruto!"

Sasuke turned around and saw her. Sakura was running towards them. But her voice seemed so different from her usual stern tone. The voice he was hearing now was sweet, caring and gentle. He would have thought of it more but he grew more scared as she approached them. Oh kami he would be beaten up again.

"Sasuke-kun! Oh my gosh your face!"

Sasuke's eyes went wide. Well as wide as a bloody face would allow you. He could already feel soothing chakra from her as she placed her hand on his face. He dared look at her but her attention was not on his eyes. And he caught it; there really was some sort of difference. As he studied her face he noticed there was something odd about her. Her face looked softer but not quite soft. There was an angelic image in her but only a little slight. You could never tell the difference if you weren't that close to her.

"Really Naruto-kun you messed him up pretty bad."

"She's so caring..." he thought to himself.

"He deserved it Sakura-chan. And you know it!"

"But Naruto..."

"Her hand is so gentle almost fragile.."

"Sasuke could have defended himself you know. I only aimed for his pretty face." Naruto made a face.

And this time Sakura's eyes met hers.

"Her eyes shows... more compassion and there's a sincere concern for me.." he again pointed a difference in his head. But he still could not make sense of all these quick changes.

"Sasuke-kun, are you alright? Why didn't you defend yourself?"

Sasuke decided he likes it more when she speaks. Her voice was like music to his ears, so light and heavenly.

"Sasuke-kun?"

And he can't get enough of her.

"Maybe I should whack him in the head again Sakura-chan just to see if he's okay" Naruto offered but stopped when he heard Sasuke speak.

"You're beautiful.."

Then Naruto couldn't help but whack Sasuke's head again.

"Ouch that hurts!" came Sasuke's reply. And all eyes suddenly held a look of disbelief.

"Neh Sakura-chan, Sasuke-teme isn't acting like Sasuke-teme maybe I punched something vital on his brain area or something." Naruto said his voice a little scared right now.

"I don't think so Naruto.."

"Ehem. Will you stop talking about me when I'm clearly in front of you guys?" Sasuke said as he stood up from the ground. He gave a full look on the two now that his face was all better.

"Hey teme, why the hell are you acting so strange?! You're freaking us out! And what happened to your clothes?" Naruto demanded. He was clearly confused as everyone else.

"I'm the one who's supposed to say that!" Sasuke remarked at them. His face becoming more annoyed now. He paid no attention towards Naruto's dismay on his clothing, coming from a ninja who dressed in orange and black. No he won't be asking for fashion advice to the blonde pretty soon.

"Sasuke-kun, are you alright? Sakura asked again. Her eyes searching his for an answer. But all he showed was more confusion.

"I must be crazy already."

Xxx

"You're crazy." came Sasuke's reply. Sakura had continually asked why Minato's face was in there where it should have been her father.

Sasuke would have laughed at her joke if he wasn't void of emotions. But what disturbed him was the fact that she looked dead serious.

"Is there something going on with the village?! What the hell is going on?"

He noticed it again. There was something in her voice that was not quite Sakura-like. She had a more powerful grip on the way she delivered herself like she was someone important. She stands firmer as well as if she was always on guard.

"Sasuke! Are you even paying attention?!" Sakura shouted while pushing Sasuke away.

"The way she called my name was also different." he also noticed. There was an icy pang on it like she was annoyed at him or like she was not fond being in his presence. He also noticed the way she touched him. It was rough and hard and he was sure Sakura's hands were somewhat softer. But there was still a hint of anxiousness in her voice and a tingling sensation when she touched him. A feeling Sasuke could not get a hold of.

"Kakashi!" she suddenly said as she pushed her way out of Sasuke. She was glad to see anyone other than Sasuke even if it was the super-hyper active ninja.

Kakashi made a slight expression on his face. Sakura always called him Kakashi-sensei. That was odd.

"Sakura did Sasuke hurt you again?" Kakashi said in his normal calm voice, eying the said man.

"Not you too Kakashi!" Sakura slapped her forehead. In her head she asked why everyone was acting so different. First Ino in skimpy ninja attire, then her father's head mysteriously got replaced; Sasuke's being all aloof on her and now Kakashi's very reserved attitude. It must be topsy turvy day. Everyone was acting the complete opposite.

"Maybe I am getting crazy." she thought to herself. Then she felt it, a kunai in her back.

"Who are you?" Sasuke merely stated with a voice telling do not mess with me. Kakashi also drew his kunai on her neck apparently he also felt that this wasn't Sakura. She's probably an imposter but they did not sensed any genjutsu or ninjutsu spells on her.

The Sakura trapped between the kunais aimed directly on her vital areas poofed into cherry blossoms and she was already on Sasuke's back her own kunai piercing already through his skin but not deep enough. Another Sakura too was also in Kakashi's back mimicking the same action with the other Sakura.

"Don't you even dare move or else you'll both be paralyzed forever." Sakura warned with a voice full of dead seriousness.

"Hn."

"You should never underestimate me." Sakura uttered. Sasuke was right. This person never let her guards down as she quickly made a move to counter their surprise attack.

"We can sense no genjutsu on you. But you are not Sakura. Who are you? And why are you impersonating a shinobi of the Leaf?" Kakashi calmly asked, not moving from his position. He deduced that fighting with her won't make her talk. The best way to get her attention is to talk to her as calmly as possible.

"What do you mean? I'm Sakura Haruno of the Leaf!" she shouted losing her nerves. "How dare he question who I am." she thought to herself. I am a renowned shinobi of high caliber. Everyone knows me.

"Her chakra signature is that of Sakura." Sasuke stated withdrawing his weapon.

"Thank you for pointing out the obvious." her voice filled with irritation and venom.

"Sakura does your sudden change of behavior have something to do with what happened between you and Sasuke last night?" Kakashi carefully asked, also withdrawing his weapon. He thought that maybe Sakura is just in-anger state with Sasuke and the whole world right now. That would probably explain her very weird behavior.

Sakura dispersed the other clone after applying a quick healing jutsu on Sasuke and Kakashi. She decided that if she can get something out of talking to the two idiots, then she would be willing to try. She needed to trust them despite the changes.

"Last night I told Sasuke that I don't love him."

If they were anyone other than Sasuke and Kakashi their jaws were probably already on the ground.

Xxx

"SO YOU'RE TELLING US THAT AFTER SAKURA-CHAN TOLD YOU THAT SHE DOESN'T LOVE YOU, YOU GUYS WERE ENGULFED IN DARKNESS AND THEN EVERYONE STARTED ACTING DIFFERENT?!" Naruto shouted at him not really believing in his story. Naruto was starting to think that maybe he did hit something vital.

Sakura was still at loss for words, her jaw hitting the ground. With this Sasuke in front of her, everything suddenly happened in reverse, in the exact opposite.

"I'm not lying." Sasuke uttered. Sakura felt like he was telling the truth but she felt that something did not fit in together.

This Sasuke in front of her dared to voice out, dared to talk to them and must she say even defend him. Sasuke would usually just grunt all of them away. Although physically they were the same but when she looked at him carefully she could trace that his face wasn't as hard as before. His eyes showed more and betrayed the cold eyes Sakura knew Sasuke had. And aside from the clothing he wore, the obvious difference between them was this Sasuke was free. Free to do anything he wanted without burdens overcoming him. It's as if this Sasuke was born with a perfect carefree life. This Sasuke was more relaxed. This Sasuke never tasted burden. This Sasuke was not restricted. This Sasuke can smile.

And Sakura couldn't help but giggle.

And by the sound of her voice, the two bickering boys stopped and Sasuke's cheeks went red as his eyes went wide. He was enchanted at the same time haunted by the ghost of her. It was such a long time ago when he saw her like this- happy and smiling.

"When was the last time she smiled like this?" he thought. He never saw her smile and giggle like this not ever since... Sakura never allowed herself to be carefree and light anymore. But to see her so happy made Sasuke's heart beat irregularly.

"Sakura-chan, don't tell me you're going nuts too." Naruto said, concern coaxing his voice.

"He looks like Sasuke. His chakra signature is Sasuke's but he isn't Sasuke." Sakura stated plainly as if it was as natural as her hair color. She had concluded that this man was not the Sasuke they knew at least.

"Then who is he?" Naruto asked not really paying attention to Sasuke who's utterly confused on his identity as well.

Xxx

Sasuke and Kakashi could not believe her words. Maybe she was still drunk, Sasuke thought but quickly shoved it away since she did not stench alcohol nor did she look like she was kidding. This Sakura did not know the meaning of playing around. This Sakura was dead serious. And he somehow didn't like this new side of her. He's already missing her annoying self.

"So you're Sakura but you're not Sakura at the same time." Kakashi said his own conclusion confusing him.

"Well you keep on saying I'm not Sakura! But I am! Why do I seem different huh?" Sakura puffed. This was annoying her to an extent which she cannot seem to tolerate.

"Everyone seems so different to me." she added in a low voice. And in that short moment Sasuke could have sworn she was the Sakura he knew. Kakashi must have seen her act too. The way her shoulders slouched, her jaded eyes a little softer and her composure a little defeated, it was so like Sakura. Sasuke could already feel his headache coming back.

If there was one person who could read Sakura it was Sasuke.

No matter how he hated it but an image of a sad and broken Sakura would always linger in his mind. That defeated stance, the exact replica of the 12-year old Sakura and the broken hearted Sakura last night, was nothing new to Sasuke. It was ironic how much Sakura changed when he left and how little she did.

"Maybe we should head back to the bench. You said you were with Sasuke before you left the bench this morning. Maybe he's still there." Kakashi ignored Sakura's question. He didn't have any answers for her. So when he saw Sakura raised her eyebrows thinking hello Sasuke is next to you look and even though Sasuke was emotionless he could plainly see the confused look in his disguise. It was the only thing Kakashi could have think of. If Sakura said was true then a Sasuke might still be there in the bench.

He prayed there wasn't.

Xxx

Sakura was sitting beside Sasuke and Naruto on the bench. She had whacked all her brain for possible answers but all she could think of was the possibility of two Sasukes roaming aroung Konoha. And she was sure that that was the last thing to happen. Two Sasukes? Get real.

She noticed he had gone quieter now. After Sakura decided that they should organize their thoughts before seeing her shisou, the three of them settled on sitting down. This was gonna take a long time.

Even Naruto who hated sitting around and thinking seemed to be lost in his own reverie. Naruto's brows were crossing each other and during some time he would get up as if a brilliant idea entered his mind but would shrug it off easily then went back to his deep contemplation.

Sakura could not help but observe Sasuke who was sitting next to her. Her emerald orbs were searching through him. She was sure that he wasn't Sasuke but when she saw him serious like this, she found it hard to believe her previous remark. The man next to her looked like he did not wish to be disturbed in his thinking. His eyes were looking far and Sakura knew his thoughts travelled farther. His face suddenly lost the calmness and was replaced with a stern look, his aura emitting mystery and depth. He was the Sasuke she knew and fell in love.

Because no one knows Sasuke as much as Sakura does.

By that she didn't meant all the superficial facts about him. She remembered her fan girl days. Gone were the days she would stalk and collect Sasuke's stuff. She outgrew that but her love remained. It proved true to herself that absence did made the heart grow fonder. For there were no days that she wasted. She trained. And she trained. And she became stronger. She proved her self when she helped greatly in returning Sasuke back in Konoha. And she showed Sasuke who she was as a kunoichi, as a teammate and as a friend. She redeemed herself worthy and Sasuke saw that in her as he now acknowledged her.

But he still didn't love her. He saw her as a special friend and nothing more. Just by that thought Sakura felt a sharp pain, feeling the already shattered pieces of her heart break again.

So all the while she seated beside him, she could tell the little yet significant differences. She believed that he was Sasuke.

Yet at the same time he wasn't because Sakura knew she could not put aside Sasuke's unSasuke-like actions.

How could two things be so right and so wrong at the same time?

She was in deep concentration again when she felt three chakras coming towards them.

One chakra signature caught her attention

...

...

...

It was hers.

A/N: I hope you continue to support me by hitting that review button! Please (puppy dog eyes)