Sakura knocked gently on the Uzumaki-Hyuuga household door. She had stopped for pastries to bring and at the thought of having a dinner with Sasuke, a bottle of hard liquor. She still wasn't used to spending time in such closer quarters with him. It made her nervous and she definitely picked up her mentor's coping mechanisms.

Hinata opened the door. "Sakura!" Sakura bowed and entered, taking off her shoes. "Welcome!"

"Thank you for having me, I brought some desserts and drinks."

Sasuke had arrived a few minutes prior and was already seated with Naruto, a beer in hand. He watched the women exchange pleasantries. He noted Sakura's bag. So, she drank. Sakura barely ate, was over-worked and drank. Interesting, she had certainly learned a thing or two from Tsunade.

"Is it time to eat!" Naruto cheered, rubbing his stomach. Hinata shot Naruto a look, and he quickly rephrased his statement.

"Ah-I will, uh, bring out the food. Please, sit." His wife smiled, meeting him in the kitchen. Hinata certainly had quite the hold on the jinchuriki.

Sakura sat next to Sasuke at the table, greeting him with a squeeze of the shoulder. "I'm happy you made it, Sasuke."

Through-out dinner, everyone spoke and it was pleasant. Hinata and Sasuke had actually known each rather closely before their academy days. They were both influential heirs, after all. Despite their clan rivalries, they often attended political functions together. Being so young, they were often both pawned off on a nanny together. Finally, dessert had been finished and they were all sufficiently fed.

"Let's play some cards!" Naruto announced.

"You play, I'll clean up the table then join you," Hinata suggested.

"I'll assist," Sasuke insisted.

Sakura ended up joining Naruto in the living room with a bottle of liquor. Both her and Naruto had already become flush from the buzz they were wearing from their drinking during dinner.

Hinata and Sasuke gathered the dishes, heading towards the kitchen. Sasuke sensed a certain attitude around Hinata and he could pinpoint it exactly, it was royal. She always had a specific attitude toward him, clan rivalries clearly ingrained into her personality. He couldn't help but mimic it, he had be trusted with the same values as well.

"Sasuke," Hinata stated as she began rinsing dishes. "You've taken an interest in Sakura." It wasn't a question. Hinata's tone was one of a leader, and frankly Sasuke barely recognized her.

"Possibly." He wasn't sure why he answered her at all, let alone honestly. He hadn't even entertained Naruto's jeering earlier.

Hinata stopped her actions, turned toward him. She placed a hand on the counter and stared him dead in the eye. Her eyes were equally as soul-sucking as his. "If you have any plans to destroy her again, stay away. If you harbor any ill-will toward any of us, leave. My husband and Sakura are good people."

Sasuke stared at her, in awe. Everyone in Konoha had seemed to forgive him. Far too easily, he had judged. Of all people, he did not expect Hinata to be the skeptical. Though, he understood her sentiments, he hadn't quite forgiven himself even.

"Sakura and Naruto are good people. I have no intentions to harm them ever again."

Hinata sighed, her entire demeanor relaxing. "It seems Naruto is right. You are a good person. Thank you, Sasuke."

Hinata patted him on the arm before walking to join her friends at the coffee table. Sasuke followed after her, still in shock of who, of all people, had just challenged his will.

The night ran late with laughter. Naruto won several rounds of cards earning several bitter comments from Sasuke and a full hissy fit from Sakura. Somehow they ended up switching to a card game involving lying and the person who got called out had to drink. Sakura and Naruto both lost horribly.

"I should get going," Sakura slurred as she rubbed her head. "Thank you for having me," she tried to bow to Naruto and Hinata, but was too wobbly and ended up having to use the couch to catch herself.

"A-are you sure you're okay? We have a spare room," Hinata suggested worried about Sakura's state. Both Sakura and Naruto had gotten plenty intoxicated after the drinking game. Hinata and Sasuke had faired far better.

"Nooooo, the fresh air, yeah that'll help! That's what he needs!" She gestured to Naruto who had already begun to fall asleep on the couch.

Sasuke shook his head as his teammates, they were a mess. He felt warm from the alcohol, but certainly not inhibited in any way. "I'll keep her safe, Hinata."

"Thank you, Sasuke." Hinata nodded knowingly, and watched them walk until they turned the corner.

As the two of them left the house, Sakura had begun to almost permanently sway back and forth. "Sakura, you should come to my home. Just in case."

Sakura looked at him with a confused face, then it transformed into a devious smile. "Oh Sasuke dear, inviting me to your house. How bold!" She began to walk her fingers up his chest.

He gulped and swatted her hand away causing her to pout. He had to admit, her pouting was cute. He antics, however, were annoying. "Yes, I have the whole compound to myself now."

"Hey Sasuke," Sakura giggled. Sasuke turned to her, raising a brow.

"Guess what?" Her hand found their way into his hair.

"Duck Butt."

That was enough. He picked her up like a sack of potatoes and began to carry her home. She wailed as though she was being kidnapped and murdered. Finally, he entered the rebuilt compound and put her down. She had fallen asleep.

He shook his head and laid her down in bed in the room next to him. He placed a glass of water and then sat next to her on the edge of the bed. He brushed the hair out of her eyes and her hands latched onto his shirt.

With a gasp, he flushed, but didn't dare move back in fear of disturbing her. Sasuke took off his shirt, hoping to appease her. He could only imagine the things she would think when she woke up and inevitably remembered nothing. As he went to stand she whimpered his name.

He couldn't go. Something about her made it impossible to deny her. He aligned himself close enough to her, that she could sense him, but not touching. He stared at the ceiling. Her quiet breathing next to him was lulling him to sleep.

"What's it like outside," a tiny voice asked.

Sasuke looked around taking in the damp scent and cobbled walls. "Fresh," he commented.

"Why can't you go outside?"

The pink haired girl shifted, shrugging. "Maybe he still thinks I'll go. He said I have a wondering soul." There was a long pause, "You came here by choice." It was a statement, but also a question.

"Hn," the young Sasuke grunted. "It's the only way to get strong enough."

The world shifted to a hallway, Sasuke was being led outside. Kabuto looked at him, "Find someone and bring them back."

Sasuke paused. The world fast forwarded. A brown hair lady flashed. Next thing he knew he was strapped to a surgical chair across from the woman. Her eyes were wide with horror.

A heated rod was held out. "Her or you," Orochimaru inquired.

"Me." A torch again. "Me." A electrical prod. "Me." He took everything, until a serum. "Me." Sasuke was injected and suddenly his entire body was on fire. Every bone in his body seemed to be breaking at once. This was pain he'd never felt before. Another injection, it stopped.

"Now Sasuke, this next injection I will run for a full hour. That was 30 seconds. Her or you?"

Sasuke gulped. He had no obligation to protect this woman, but he was the reason she had been lured and captured here. "Me." The pain he felt was unimaginable.

"This last one is 24 hours. A full day. Her or you?" Sasuke's head hung. He couldn't move anymore. Everything was numb, but still aching in pain.

"Her."

"What was that?"

"Her."

"Enjoy the show," Orochimaru instructed as he left the room. Sasuke spent the next 24 hours listening to her screams, until about halfway through, they were only grunts. He could feel the life force and will leaving the woman's body. Once Orochimaru he instructed Kabuto it place the woman in a cell, for later use. "You're almost ready for the final stage, Sasuke."

"Sasuke! Sasuke!" Sakura screeched, attempting to wake the sleeping man. Sasuke bolted away and looked around, horrified. He nearly threw Sakura off the bed, his eyes whirring to life.

Sakura scrambled to the corner of the bed. "You were dreaming. Sasuke, what happened?"

Sasuke shook his head, before holding it in his hands. "Nothing."

Sakura glanced up at him. "You know I do this for a living, right?" Sasuke glanced up at her. "I can mend the wounds left on you. Or at least make them less painful."

Sasuke looked her for a long moment. The thought her seeing or hearing everything he had done was enough to make his stomach drop, but he had promised. He had sworn he would try to be better. If he said no, he'd be a liar again. "Fine."

He wanted to be better. It had become better as he traveled, but the nightmares. They were awful. "Start now."

Sakura sighed. He was lucky she was capable. "I do have to warn you, you'll have to follow up. If you do not commit to the treatment, you will not be able to respond appropriately socially. Your judgement will fail and your intuition will become nonexistent. Commitment to this treatment is essential. It isn't something you decide on a whim."

Sasuke couldn't help but smirk at her attitude change. She had turned into a professional with the flip of a switch. Compared to her actions last night… she was a woman of many colors. "Can you do it without assistance? I don't want anyone else present."

Sakura nodded. "It's not as accurate, but yes. I can do it sufficiently on my own."

"Then yes. Start."

Sakura sighed and her hands glowed green. "Tell me about the night your family died."

Sasuke looked up at her, shocked. The patient he witnessed hadn't spoken. He sighed, chiding himself internally. Sakura was a professional, she knew what she was doing.

So, he began.

Naruto and Sasuke walked into the bathhouse. It had been few weeks since Sasuke began his treatment. Sakura and he had worked through everything up until him being transformed by the curse mark. Sasuke was exceptionally concerned about her reactions to everything from Orochimaru's lair. Alas, Sakura had been sent on a mission and he was able to delay further.

They began to undress at the side of the pool and both of their bodies were littered with scars from battles between themselves and even others. Sasuke took interest though in the marks on Naruto's upper torso and back. They were fresh scratches and bruises in various stages of healing. Naruto hadn't been on missions lately and they didn't seem to be from sparring since they were in weird spots.

Naruto glanced at Sasuke, "What, bastard?" Sasuke glared back, sinking into the water.

"You must have been sparring with some interesting weapon-users lately," Sasuke deduced out loud. Certain weapons could make those marks. He was sure Ten-ten could come up with something.

"Yeah-sparring…" Naruto chuckled.

Sasuke glanced to his side, as they sunk into the water, confused. Realization panned over Naruto's face. For once, Sasuke was the idiot. He hadn't caught on. Naruto grinned, it stretch across his face. "I'm a married man, idiot."

Sasuke blinked, too confused to be insulted. A married man? His eye's widened and thank god his hair was long enough to cover his now red ears. And damn Sakura's treatment because it made it exceptionally harder to control his emotions. A grunt was all he could muster.

Naruto giggled, relishing in the Sasuke's embarrassment. "Not my fault my woman is…active." Sasuke remained silent.

"Have you gotten laid recently?" Sasuke's ears become more red. Just when Naruto thought he couldn't smiled any wider.

"Have you been with anyone?"

Sasuke leaned back and sunk a little lower into a water, "Once or twice." Naruto started laughing and Sasuke glared.

"It's not like you ever got laid before Hinata." Sasuke was barely audible at this point, but Naruto's grin let him know he had certainly been heard. And the insult didn't even seem to brush his ego.

"But since then I've been laid HUNDREDS of times… I wonder if Sakura has gotten laid?"

Anger wasn't a feeling Sasuke felt too strongly or often anymore due to his chakra points being muted. However, the fire in his stomach was strong at the thought of another man taking Sakura.

"No."

"You're jealous!" Sasuke huffed, baffled at the idea. "Uchicha Sasuke is jealous. He's jealous, he's jealous!"

Sasuke frowned and strut out of the bath. He was a lot things, but jealous was certainly something that was not.

A/N: Number three: DONE!

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