Chapter Three

Sweat shown on Sakura's forehead as she tossed in her uneasy sleep; her dreams plagued by a memory from long before. Finally, when her mind could take the abuse no longer the pink haired girl shot up, panting heavily in the cool spring air that floated through her open window.

After several seconds Sakura recognized her surroundings and she groaned. It was probably just after midnight. Maybe one. She rolled over in an attempt to fall back asleep but after about thirty minutes she realized that it most likely wasn't going to be that easy.

"Maybe a walk will help…"

Five minutes later found the young Haruno girl stealing silently across the roof of the Haruno Estate as she made her way to the front street, hoping not to alert the chuunin that guarded the back, where the estate was connected to the northwest corner of the city wall.

She easily dropped to the ground but flinched as her first step sent a small stone skittering across the paved road. When no sounds arose from behind her, Inner Sakura cheered and the small girl raced silently down the street to her secret spot.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Sasuke was restless. Nightmares of what had happened that day darkened his dreams. It was exactly the same as what had happened earlier except that when the time came for Sakura to wake him from her jutsu she never did. Because it was real. Haruno Sakura died.

Hundreds of faces crowded around him and he backed far into a corner. Suddenly he was eight years old again; his hands, face, and clothes all splattered with the sticky life fluid of those he had killed.

"I didn't mean too!" he said. "It was an accident! I wasn't myself!"

But no one believed him.

"Traitor!" They shouted. "Murderer! Hell's spawn! Devil child!"

"No!" Little Sasuke yelled, his hands pressed hard to his ears. "I didn't mean it! Mom! Dad! Come back! It was an accident! I didn't mean it!"

"NO!" Sasuke jerked awake, his breaths short and his body racked with shivers.

No sounds came from the rest of the mansion so Sasuke was sure that his cries had gone unnoticed. Even if they had been heard he doubted anyone would come. Most of the survivors didn't like him much.

Irritated at his own weakness Sasuke tossed the covers from his body and tremblingly pulled on a shirt, ignoring how it clung to his sweaty skin. He needed to go out. Somewhere. Anywhere.

…That place would be good.

Seven minutes later Sasuke was clear of the Uchiha Estate and was running down the street away from the northeast corner to where he hoped he would be able to find just a shred of solace.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

At the very center of the northern wall of Konoha stood the Northern Gate and just off to the left was a small grate where water entered the city from the mountain streams and was guided to the underground canals where it would be processed in the KWTC, Konoha Water Treatment Center, and made usable for all of the citizens of Konoha.

About six years from the present time two children stumbled across the grate and were able to find a way to move the bars just enough for them to slide through. By following one of the aqueducts they stumbled across a small paradise where it gathered water from the top of a waterfall.

It was there that Sakura was always able to find her peace. She couldn't remember who that little boy was that she played with so long ago but to her it didn't really matter because she had her paradise.

Sasuke stumbled slightly and cursed his clumsiness as he shook off his bare foot in an attempt to stifle the throb. It wasn't much further to his clearing. He didn't go there often but when he did it was always after something had happened. Something he would like to forget.

Coming to the top of the waterfall Sasuke shucked his shirt and stared down at the pool below. He shivered slightly in the cool evening air but the swift approach of summer was enough to drive away most of the clinging chill. His pajama pants rippled as he took a step towards the edge of the cliff and closed his eyes. After scarcely a breath he coiled his muscles and dove from the falls and into the pool down below.

Knowing that no one was around, Sakura quickly slipped from her pajama pants and clad only in her small shirt and panties she dove from the edge of the pool into the clear water of her secret paradise. She missed it here. It seemed so long since she had felt the need to seek out her sanctuary, but it had never left her mind. For some reason she felt like this place was a part of her. That it connected her to something greater. Something stronger…

Sakura sighed and turned slowly on her back as she floated closer to the roaring falls behind her. For just a moment she opened her eyes, seeking out the stars that she knew were sparkling above her. She didn't expect to see a body falling right for her.

A startled scream from below alerted Sasuke and his eyes shot open only to widen in surprise at the shape of a person floating below him. Right were he was going to land. Anger shot through his body and he expertly flipped himself around so that he would fall just to the right of this unknown person instead of landing on top of them. The splash of water that he made as he entered the Crystal Pool engulfed his unwanted companion and he quickly swam back to the top, wanting to catch whoever it was off guard.

Sakura spluttered in surprise as water rushed over her head and into her open mouth. Her brain seemed to be frozen in shock and she didn't even notice that she had allowed herself to sink below the water until she attempted to regain her breath. Jerking herself from her stupor, the pink haired girl drug her body from beneath the water and out into the sweet taste of air.

Coughing from his left informed Sasuke of where his prey was located and without waiting another moment he pounced, dragging his victim beneath the clear waters once again.

Sakura struggled against her captor; her lungs begging to return to the surface but the arm around her was to strong. Just as she thought that she was going to pass out from the lack of oxygen, her head broke through the surface of the water and she was hauled onto the beach that covered half the pool's diameter.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?"

Sakura gaped. "Sasuke?!"

"Sakura?" He returned.

A moment of silence and then two voices rang out at once.

"What are you doing here!"

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Dawn broke brightly the next morning, sending his light spilling like liquid gold across the walls of the Haruno Estate. For half a second Hikari paused to bask in the glow of the time of day she enjoyed most before she returned her mind to the mission at hand.

Her fist paused for a moment but Hikari quickly pushed past her hesitation and rapped lightly on her sister's door.

"Sakura? Are you awake?"

No answer came and Hikari's brow furrowed. "Come on Sakura, you're always up by now. Let me in."

Still Sakura refused to respond and Hikari sighed. "I know you're mad at me about yesterday but at least here me out."

Nothing.

"Sakura?" Slowly Hikari eased open her sister's door and her mouth dropped open in horror.

"KYOOO!!"

Pounding foot steps sounded on the hall floor as her half dressed cousin came barreling down the hall, his blue hair mused badly from sleep.

"What's wrong Hikari? What happened?"

"S-Sakura s-s-she, she's gone!"

"…Is that all?"

"Is that all!" Hikari said. "Look at the state of her room! Something must have happened!"

Kyo shook his head. "She was probably just upset about what happened yesterday and left early to cool off. I'm sure it's nothing to wor—."

Hikari cut him off. "Her bed is unmade, her pajamas aren't in the hamper, and her clothes for today are still sitting folded on her desk! Something has to be wrong!"

"Hikari a little bit of a mess doesn't prove anything."

"How can it not prove something!" Hikari said. "Sakura is such a neat freak and organization nut that she even folds and categorizes her underwear by color! How can you say this doesn't prove anything!!!"

"Hikari—."

"What's going on?"

Kyo was cut off again, but this time it was by the timid voice of his little sister. "Sakura isn't in her room and Hikari is having a fit."

Ichigo tilted her head to look into her cousin's room and she pursed her lips. She hadn't been present the day before when Sakura was being scolded but Naruto had told her about it afterwards.

"Maybe she ran away?" The younger red head suggested but Hikari shook her head.

"She still wouldn't leave the place a mess.

"That's true. Sakura isn't the type of person to do that. Kidnapped then?"

Hikari's already pale face paled a shade further. "That's what I'm thinking. Do you think that the kidnapper would have gotten very far? Maybe if we get a team of ANBU on it—."

"For the last time! Nothing is wrong!" Kyo's voice started the two girls from their play at drama and once he was sure they were paying attention he continued. "Now, If Sakura doesn't show up by then end of the day then we can assume something is wrong. As of right now a little bit of a mess is not a problem. She is probably just a bit stressed. Not only about yesterday but about her exams. She's probably just letting out steam by practicing. Nothing to be alarmed about."

Tears laced Hikari's eyes but she nodded. It was easy, even for her, to see that Kyo was not going to budge on this. Still, she was really worried. So she decided to go to the one person she knew would listen to her no matter what.

"I'm going to practice with Itachi then. I'll see you two later."

Kyo sighed as his former student walked down the hall. "Well that was easy enough."

Ichigo's eyes narrowed. 'To easy.' She thought. Quickly she hurried to her room to dress so that she could follow her cousin's trek to the Uchiha Estate.

XXXXXXXXXXX

Sunlight bathed the two sleeping figures as their still damp bodies slowly dried in its rays. Their breaths were deep and even as they slept off the exhaustion that last nights activities had brought upon them.

Not surprisingly it was Sasuke that woke first. His face was calm as he stretched out his sore muscles. As he glanced to his side mid his eyes fell upon the sunbathed features of his companion. Watching her sleeping peacefully after what had happened the night before almost brought a smile to his face.

Almost.

"Hey. Wake up."

Sakura moaned slightly and curled up on herself. "Five more minutes."

"No. The sun is already up."

"Huh?" Groggily Sakura sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. "Sasuke-kun?"

"Hn."

Silence filled the small area and Sakura fidgeted awkwardly until as small breeze brushed her thighs causing her to shiver. Rubbing one palm up and down her bare legs to warm them suddenly brought her back to the present.

She was sitting in a clearing with the Uchiha Sasuke, wearing nothing but a little shirt and underwear.

Sasuke jerked around in surprise as he heard Sakura let out a horrified squeal and make a dive for the bushes.

"What?"

"Um…Um…have you…seen my pants…?"

Sasuke blushed. His eyes scanned the area but he didn't spot any sign of Sakura's dark red sleeping pants. He sighed.

"Wait here."

Sakura nodded and sunk lower into the bushes to wait for Sasuke to return from where ever he had gone. Minutes past like hours before the dark haired boy finally returned; a navy blue clan shirt held loosely in his hands.

"Here," he said as he threw it in her direction.

Sakura's eyes went wide as she caught the shirt. "Um…thank-you."

Sasuke turned around and lowered his eyes to his folded arms. "It should probably be long enough. It was my dad's so…"

Sakura's mouth fell open and she clutched the shirt tightly to her chest.

"Y-your dad's…?"

"Hn."

Green eyes softened as Sakura nodded silently and pulled the shirt over her head. She was relieved to find that it fell nearly to her knees as she stood and made her way over to stand next to her silent companion.

"Thank-you."

"Hn."

Silence reigned again until at once the both spoke.

"About last night."

They blushed.

"You first." Sasuke said but Sakura simply shook her head and motioned for the Uchiha boy to continue.

Sasuke blew out a small breath and quickly looked away. "Sorry I hit you."

Sakura smiled. "It's okay. I would have hit me too."

He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. "Aa."

"I'm always here for you Sasuke-kun."

"…Hn."

Another long pause before Sasuke scowled. "I'm leaving."

"…Okay. I'll see you on Friday for the exams."

Sasuke didn't say anything as he shoved his hands into his pants pockets and began the trek back to Konoha.

Once he was out of sight Sakura began to giggle and she fell back onto the grassy ledge that over looked one half of the Crystal Pool, as Sasuke called it. It was a surprisingly gentle name for a boy that put out such a hard façade. It was rather endearing actually.

As the sun slowly began to climb higher in the sky, Sakura's thoughts turned back to what had happened the night before. Never had she ever imagined that she would be alone with Sasuke like that. Let alone become…well…almost friends. Especially after what had happened earlier the other day.

It was definitely a night of surprises.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

The sound of their surprised shouts lingered in their shared paradise as their feelings clashed in the night air.

Sasuke's eyes were harder then granite as he stared down the fidgeting Haruno girl. Her lip was held between her teeth and her fingers were dancing together behind her back in nervousness.

Sasuke's eyes widened. She looked just like she did when…NO! It wouldn't happen again.

Before he could stop himself, Sasuke launched at the girl and her eyes went wide in surprise as his fist connected with her chin, sending her flying into the Crystal Pool. For a second she floated on the water, a slight trickle of blood sliding sideways from the corner of her mouth before she sunk beneath the choppy surface.

He panted heavily as he waited for the breathy 'kai' to awaken him from his nightmare.

It never came.

Jerking back to reality, panic engulfed his body and Sasuke launched himself into the water to drag her back. He met her half way down, the shock of breathing in water having brought her around and into a frenzied panic for air. Grabbing her wrist, Sasuke dragged Sakura on to the beach once again. This time collapsing next to her as she gasped.

"W-what the hel-l was th-that!" Sakura demanded.

Sasuke glared. "Hn."

"D-on't you 'hn' me you j-jer-k! You nearly k-kil—!" She stopped herself as she watched Sasuke focus all of his attention on the ground. Water dripped from his face like tears even though she knew that no water was escaping his eyes.

"…I-I'm sorry…"

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "What are you sorry for? I hit you remember?"

"Yeah…but…I know why you did."

He scoffed and stood to leave. "Whatever."

"Can't you at least give me the chance to defend myself?"

"Why?"

"Look! I just want to say I'm sorry alright?"

"Because one word will make every thing okay."

The sarcasm in Sasuke's voice cut Sakura deep and she bit her lip; her eyes now focused on the ground.

"I am sorry."

"Hn."

"Wait!" She said as he began to walk away. "Won't you just hear me out?"

"….No."

"Why not? Are you afraid?"

Sasuke stopped and shot a glare over his shoulder. "I'm not afraid of anything."

"Nothing huh?"

"Don't go there Haruno."

"Then listen."

"…Hn."

For a moment Sakura wasn't sure if that was a yes or a no but her answer came quickly.

"Talk. I don't have all night."

"Oh! Oh-um. R-right."

Silence.

"I…I wanted to prove myself I guess. You were treating me like I was inferior and I couldn't stand it. I hated that you would think that I was such a waist of time and space that you would only think to fight me because of a dare. I wanted to prove that I was worthy to fight."

"…"

Sakura sighed. "It's childish I suppose, but all of my life I've been told 'Sakura your really smart but you just aren't a ninja.' 'Why don't you go back to the Institute?' and 'You would do better there.'" She tossed a rock into the water. "But I don't want to go to the Institute. I want to be a ninja. To protect people…to maybe, someday, be able to stand outside of my sister's shadow. Haven't you…ever felt that way? Felt inferior?"

Sasuke's eyes lowered as he remembered his own youth and his despair of being constantly over shadowed by his brother. His hope that maybe one day, his father would look down at him instead of always up at his brother.

"I'm sorry that I cast a genjutsu on you. But it was the only way that I thought I could win against you. I'm not very good at taijutsu really, and my ninjutsu is just the basics but genjutsu is something I've always done well in. It's my only strong point."

Sasuke was silent for a moment before he smirked. "Prove it."

Sakura's eyes widened. "What?"

"Prove it. Prove that you have talent as a ninja. That you shouldn't just quit."

"What are you talking abou—?" Sakura was violently cut off as she just barely dodged a kunai that was launched in her direction. She came out of her dive in a small crouch and she stared up at Sasuke like he was a ghost. "What are you doing?"

Sasuke's smirk widened as he twirled another kunai around his pointer finger. "Prove that you are worth my notice."

For half a minute Sakura just stared before she smiled. "Alright Sasuke-kun. But I won't be holding back."

Sasuke almost laughed. "Hn."

The rules were silent but clear. No limits. Anything goes. Genjutsu, taijutsu, ninjutsu. Anything that would allow one or the other to take the upper hand.

Sasuke's strike was purposely slowed as he engaged Sakura in the first blow. The flash of their kunai glittered in the night as the clang of metal on metal was drowned out by the roaring of the waterfall to the side. Sakura's strength was rather impressive as she managed to hold the larger boy at bay. Her mind was working fast, shifting through every strategy she had ever learned in order to find, or create, the perfect attack.

Their stand-still didn't last long as Sasuke jerked back and set up for another strike, this time increasing his speed in order to come up from behind.

Sakura's senses were on complete alert as she waited for Sasuke's strike. Her hands were a blur of motion as she completed a set of hidden seals. Just as Sasuke's blade met her back, smoke engulfed Sakura's form and a large log had taken its place.

Sasuke quickly pulled back and closed his eyes to listen. His ears scanned over every sound that he heard. The rush of the falls, the rustle of the leaves in the breeze, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. She must be using a jutsu.

His eyes snapped open once again, but this time they were a deep blood red; two coma like blades swirled rapidly around his pupils as he searched for any sign of his assailant. Just then a blur of movement came from the side and Sasuke quickly turned to meet it.

Sakura's body streamed water in an arch as she flew from the pool. She was surprised to find Sasuke already waiting to catch her attack and she realized that the red of his eyes was the trademark of his bloodline limit. The sharingan.

Annoyed she dropped her fingers from the beginning sign of the bunshin and she used her landing to spring above Sasuke's head, using her momentum to spin around in order to face him as she hit the ground in a crouch and launched herself at him, a kunai already held fast in her hand.

Sasuke was impressed. She wasn't a genius in the art of being a ninja but her wide forehead seemed to come in quite handy as she quickly made up and then changed her plans in order to accommodate the changes in situations. She might be useful in a tight spot.

Fifteen minutes after the fight had begun Sakura knew she was wearing out. But she couldn't quit. She had to make him understand. She wanted him to see that she was worth fighting. Her breaths were heavy and her moves became sluggish against her will until Sasuke easily overpowered her and pinned her to the ground, a kunai held dangerously close to her neck.

Silence filled the area, broken only by Sakura's loud breathing and the roar of the falls now a ways behind. Slowly the red in Sasuke's eyes began to bleed back to black and he pulled away, sliding his kunai back in his pouch as he did so.

He eyed her for half a second before a small smirk crossed his lips.

"Hn."

Sakura smiled. He approved. She had passed. Her exhaustion quickly overcame her and she leaned back into the grass, her eyes closing as she quickly gave in to the sweet calls of sleep.

For a moment Sasuke just stood, still digesting the information that he had learned about Haruno Sakura from the fight that had just taken place. It seemed that she could be a rather decent opponent when motivated. Who knew?

Slowly Sasuke sank to the grass near, but not to close, to where Sakura was already sleeping soundly. A moment or two passed before he finally closed his eyes and allowed sleep to claim him as well.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Sakura smiled again as stood to stretch before she scanned the area for any scattered kunai before she happily made her way back home. She felt so good that she just might go see Ino.

Maybe.

End Chapter Three


Kaliea: A million and one years later, I finally give you: Chapter three! And…now it's over. Oh well. At least it's here right? So any way, things seem to be shaping up for Sasu and Saku but on the horizon there lurks a familiar person that we will all grow to hate in the coming chapters of another tale. Until then I hope you all enjoyed this installment of "In a Better World". Till next time, ja ne!


Review Answers:

Slstmaraudersjple: Thank-you very much! It's nice to know that people enjoy reading all of my stuff. I hope that you continue to enjoy it.

Atra Nox: I understand where you're coming from. Judging by what we know of Sasuke in the anime and manga his reaction in the last chapter should be nothing less then comical because it was so far away from his personality. However in this story, even though his character is basically the same, there is a much darker, deeper side to Sasuke that he holds back. Even deeper then his thirst for revenge, because he can't get revenge on himself.

Sakura was treated the way she was because she DID know that something such as that would happen, maybe not that exact situation, but something close to it, because she knows what happened in his past.

It is also true that Genjutsu was perfectly legal but it was strictly against the rules to use anything that could cause excessive damage to an opponent. This includes mental damage as well.

Anyway, hanks for the review. I didn't take it as a flame at all, actually I'm glad that you like this story enough to analyze it. I hope to hear from you again!

Rinn Brandt: I can't go deep into the Uchiha Tragedy for right now but I will say that it has a lot to do with Sakura's 'death' in the last chapter. It also has a great deal to do with Orochimaru which will also be explained much, much later.

Yersi Fanel: The Tragedy was defiantly changed as you can see. For one it's the 'Uchiha Tragedy' not the 'Uchiha Massacre'. Also, Itachi isn't a psycho and he is a very caring (if not a little quiet) clan head and older brother. Not much NaruHina in this chapter but I think there will be some soon. I'm not really sure cause most of that I make up on the spot.

The Halfa Wannabe: Heheheheheh. Yeah, Itachi's role in this story is going to be a bit confusing until the whole Uchiha Tragedy thing comes completely out in the open. Until then I'll just have to say "Role with it. It'll make sense soon enough".

dittogrrl: She did cheat. She didn't mean to of course but that's the way the river flows I guess.

Schwarzd354: I'm glad that you enjoyed it and that you have so many questions. Most of them I'm afraid I can't answer right now but a lot of them will be addressed in the next chapter. Other then that there isn't really much I can say other then thank-you for your review and support. I hope to get the next chapter out soon but this isn't one of my real priority stories right now. Once I finish 'Holding out for a Hero' or 'Dark and Light' I'll be able to give this one the attention it deserves.

Dragon Man 180: She may not have had a good fight in the last one but what did you think about this one? And maybe what is going on between Sasu and Saku has cleared up just a fraction? Thanks for the review!

Taeniaea: Thank-you. I don't know how soon I will be updating this. Like I told Schwarzd354 it isn't a really big priority story right now. Mostly it will just be updated as I'm inspired.


Kaliea: Thanks so much for your reviews and support. I live to hear from you all. It really is my inspiration. Also, if you ever have any suggestions I'm all ears. I've used plenty of them from reviewers before. Thanks a bunch and please continue to review!