Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

Chapter 24

So I lied. Decided to post this chapter before this weekend...

anywho. Itachi (cuz i love him to much) will play a significant role in sasusaku development

and for those waiting for Orochimaru moment well, it's coming up in like the next chapter!

The hospital was in a state of frenzy after Sakura collapsed. Nurses and doctors scurried Sakura into one of the free rooms in the restricted ward while trying to get Sasuke to let go of the girl.

"Uchiha-san, please." One of the doctors urged as he tried to pry the girl from his arms and onto the white hospital bed.

Slightly loosening his grip he allowed the medics to place the girl onto the bed and started to wire her up to different machinery. "She wasn't breathing." He gritted as he glared at the leading doctor.

Ignoring the man, the middle aged doctor placed both hands on the girl's chest and started compressions, barking out orders as he proceeded. Nurses scampered around the room grabbing tubes and syringes. Sasuke felt himself being pushed from both sides as medics ran around him. However none of this mattered, his eyes solely focused on the girl in front of him. Her skin was a sickly color, and her chest lacked the rise and fall motion of someone who is breathing. For the first time he realized just how skinny she was, it was almost unhealthy. When the doctors cut away at her traditional outfit he could count the rib bones that were visible against her skin.

"Uchiha-san, can you wait outside." Sasuke snapped out of his thoughts and stared at the petit violet hair girl in front of him. Her small hands on his chest trying to push him out of room. Swatting away her hands, Sasuke gave one last look at his teammate before walking out of the room.

Having been kick out from Sakura's room, Sasuke walked back towards Itachi's room. Silently opening the door, he walked over to the small chair and sat down. Folding his hands under his chin, he stared at the sleeping figure of is brother. He could vaguely remember doing this often as a child whenever his brother was asleep, he would always sneak into his room and poke at him.

Sighing Sasuke waited for Itachi to wake up.

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It was an hour later before Itachi finally regained consciousness. His lashes fluttered as he slowly lifted open his lids. His surroundings were a blurry mess before he blinked a few times to let his eyes focus.

"You're awake."

Drifting his eyes over to the younger male by his bedside he stared at his little brother.

"The medics stop your chakra flow until your mangekyo stops releasing black liquid."

Itachi gave a nod. So that explains the empty feeling in his body.

"How are you feeling?" Sasuke asked as his eyes scanned his brother's body for any signs of discomfort.

"Pain free." Itachi lightly mused as he shifted his body into an upright position. The dull aching pain he's been suffering from for the past few years were all gone. Sakura Haruno was in deed a talented medic. "But shouldn't Sakura-san be the one asking me these questions?"

He watched with a slightly amused expression when he saw his brother's jaw clench and fists tighten at the mention of her name.

"She fell unconscious after your surgery." Sasuke's tone came out bitter as if he was trying to hold back something.

"Probably from chakra exhaustion" Itachi said trying to lighten up Sasuke's mood. "After all this was a tough surgery."

"She wasn't breathing." Sasuke grumbled, as he glared at his hands.

Itachi frowned. He had been in lots of battles and witnessed many shinobis pass out from overuse of chakra, however only those who are completely of chakra will fully stop breathing. So that meant that Sakura must have given every last ounce of chakra into saving him for Sasuke. He didn't know whether to be glad or un-eased by how far she was willing to go for his little brother. "She'll be fine."

"Hn." Sasuke grunted.

Time was not a friend to the snake man. It was almost three years which meant he needed his vessel. Sitting in his darkened room, he glowered at his useless arms. After experimentation after experimentation his arms continued to be un functional. He had threatened every prominent medic across the land and none were able to treat him. He knew he needed Tsunade or at least Sakura if he wanted to ever use his arms, but he had no ways of reaching them. Konoha was to well guarded especially now that the notorious Uchiha Itachi was back.

He had just heard the news of a certain Uchiha's return not two days ago and his anger reached a whole new level. He had always been afraid of the older Uchiha, that's why he had been hoping to use Sasuke to take Itachi down. However since that ship has sailed he was stuck with plan B, yet it always wasn't working out as he had hoped. It seems like he miscalculated Sakura Haruno. She wasn't the obsessive fangirl he was thinking of. She was more cunning with made manipulating her much more difficult. But he needed his vessel, and he will go to extreme lengths to get it.

"KABUTO."

His door was almost immediately flung open and the glasses man flew in.

"We need to grab Konoha's attention." Orochimaru hissed out. "I need my vessel, and since I can't go to her, I'll bring her to me."

Kabuto pushed up his glasses. The light from an overhead flame bounced of the rims casted an eerie look on his face. "What do you propose Orochimaru-sama?"

"Obliterate the sister village to Konoha." Orochimaru gave a maniacal smile. "I want every last villager in the Tea country torn to bits."

Kabuto smirked before giving a bow and exiting the room.

The smile on Orochimaru's face didn't disappear. It was time was his good little soldier to fulfill her true duty.

"Sakura really loves you." Itachi said bluntly after a moment of silence between the two brothers.

Sasuke slightly choked on his own saliva as he stared flabbergasted at his brother. "W-what?"

Keeping a stoic face Itachi continued. "The way she looks at you, talks to you, always willing to do anything for you. Its clear she loves you."

Sasuke's expression softened as he recounted all the times she had easily forgiven him for everything he's done and offered him support, whether it was the first time or the second time around. "I know."

"Do you reciprocate those feelings?" Itachi asked as he eyed his brother carefully.

Did he reciprocate those feelings? Sasuke had no clue. From this second chance he learned a great deal about Sakura Haruno that he didn't know the first time around. He learned that she was a determined girl, who wasn't shy to voice her thoughts. She was also a great person to have a conversation with (not that he would be the one to do the talking). She was someone he trusted and could depend on just like Naruto. So it was safe to say she was one of his closest friends, but did he reciprocate her feelings of love? "I don't know."

Itachi raised to fingers and poked Sasuke in the forehead, chuckling lightly when he saw the light glare from Sasuke. "Keep her close, she's the good sort."

It was at this moment the door of the room opened and a stocky middle aged woman walked in. Her salt and pepper hair tied into a neat bun on top of her head and her eyes a dull grey color. From her sullen expression and her insanely upright posture it was clear this woman does not joke around.

"I'm here for your check up." Her voice was cool and brisk.

"Aa." Itachi gave a small nod to the woman. Without saying another word, she approached the bed with a clip board tucked under one arm.

"Any pain or discomfort." She asked as she measured Itachi's pulse.

"No."

Releasing his wrist she jotted it down on the clipboard, before moving to check the rest of his body. After a good five minutes the woman jotted down the last bit of information before turning to leave the room. However, before she made it out the door, Sasuke spoke up.

"How is Sakura?"

"She's fine." Came her brisk reply before closing the door. Sasuke gave a small sigh of relief.

"Go check on her." Itachi urged when he saw the relief on his brother's face. "I'm still going to be here when you get back."

Saying nothing, Sasuke gave Itachi one last look before exiting the room.

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Sasuke vaguely mused at the walls of the restricted ward. Instead of the starchy white that was slathered against the rest of the walls of the hospital, this wall was painted a mellow green. Granted it was a soothing color to look at. Turning the corner, he stopped in front of the room 6, softly as possible he pushed open the sliding door and slipped in. All the medics that were once in the room had already left. Taking a seat on the small stool beside the girl's bed Sasuke stared at her. The rising and falling action of her chest reassured him that she was indeed alive and breathing. Carefully he brushed aside a strand of stray hair from her face. Her skin felt cool under his touch.

Sighing he continued to stare at her sleeping figure. Itachi's question still burning in his head. Did he have feelings for her that past the friendship level? Granted she did confess to him, and she did spend a good chunk of her life trying to bring him back, and she has shown that she was indeed very dedicated to him, but does that mean he has to love her back? Every since the massacre he managed to distance himself from most people, to shut off all those unnecessary emotions such as love, but ever since meeting team 7 those emotions came flooding back. However can he really afford to love her? After all the Uchiha clan is said to be cursed in that they love to strongly and that that love can just as easily turn into immense hate. So is she worth it?

"Sasuke-kun?" A small voice broke him out of his train of thoughts. His eyes looked up from the palm of his hands and at the just awoken girl, who was groggily staring at him. "What happened? Where am I? Is Itachi okay?" Questions poured out from her mouth.

"You passed out after healing Itachi and you're in one of the rooms in the restricted ward." He casually replied as he helped her sit up.

Fumbling with the IV drip in her arms she stared around the room. Wires were hooked up to her as machines surrounded her. "Oh...how is he doing?"

"He's fine."

"Okay."

A long pregnant pause descended on the pair. Sakura stared down at her hands, not knowing how to continue the conversation.

"How are you feeling?" Sasuke asked after a while. His voice remained cool, but his eyes portrayed the concern he was feeling.

"A bit tired but overall good."

Another silence fell on the pair. Sakura returned her stare back down on her hands. Who knew talking to Sasuke could be this awkward.

"If you knew you were tired why did you continue with the surgery?" Sasuke spoke again. Well look who's being chatty today.

"Because I promised you I would save Itachi's life."

Sasuke was slightly taken aback. It never ceased to amaze him just how much she was willing to sacrifice for him. This amount of sacrifice could only mean one thing. "Sakura do you love me still?" He watched at the girl's face turn red as she made a choking sound. He needed absolute reaffirmation,but judging clearly judging from her expression she had not been expecting this question.

"W-what?" She squeaked as she could practically feel the heat radiating off her face.

"Do you?" His face remained stoic.

"No..." Sasuke felt his heart slightly plummet to his stomach. "...Is what I want to say, it's how I want to feel…" Sakura spoke quietly as she avoided his gaze and instead focused on the wall of her room. "...I spend years chasing after you trying to get you to feel the same way back, but I know that my attempts were futile." Her voice slightly quivered. "I know that you won't ever probably feel the same way back, so that's why I want to stop loving you and just be your friend…" She felt tears prick her eyes, as she thought of her own pathetic-ness pining after a guy who will never reciprocate her feelings. "...But I can't stop my foolish heart from falling for you."

Sasuke fell silent as he stared at the girl. What was he suppose to say? I love you back? Hell he wasn't even sure how he felt about her other than as a friend. So he choose to remain silent.

"Why do you want to know? What do you suddenly have feelings for me now?" Sakura bit her tongue, wanting to take back what she just said. What was she doing?

"I don't know."

Sakura did a double take. "What?"

"I don't know how I feel about you."

Sakura gave Sasuke a weird stare. Was he being serious right now? Narrowing her eyes she peered at his face. His normal emotionless eyes were now clouded and conflicted and his mouth was in a tight line. He certainly didn't seem like he was joking. "Do you mean someday you might feel the same way back?"

"Maybe."

Sakura felt her heart flutter as a small glimmer of hope filled her. "Well then, I won't give up on you." She said more to herself than to him.

Sasuke gave a small smirk. "Good."

Itachi was enjoying the silence in his room, before the door slammed opened and an energetic blond bursted in shouting. Holding back a wince he stared at the grinning blond. His unruly blond spike protruding from the hitai-ate and his cerulean eyes dancing with mirth.

"Naruto shush." Kakashi muttered as he whacked the blond upside the head with his book. Approaching the bed, he pulled out the familiar blue hitai ate from his ninja pouch and placed it on the counter beside Itachi. "Tsunade-sama couldn't come, so she send us to deliver the news." He spoke as he pointed to himself and Naruto. "You are officially a Konoha shinobi again, and the ones behind the massacre of your clan has been caught."

Itachi nodded towards the silver haired man. "Their punishment?"

"THAT'S FOR YOU AND TEME TO DECIDE!" Naruto shouted as he ran to the other side of the bed.

"Teme?" Itachi quirked a brow.

Naruto's smile grew. "Yeah, Sasuke-teme."

"I bet he likes that nickname." Itachi mused sarcastically.

"Well, he's a teme so he deserves it." Naruto defended himself. "But meh, he's like a brother to me so I don't think he cares."

Itachi gave a light chuckle. It was good to know that his brother has people like Naruto and Sakura and Kakashi in his life.

"Where is Teme?" Naruto asked as he looked around the room. It was weird that Sasuke wasn't here with his brother.

"He's visiting Sakura. It seems like she collapsed after my surgery."

Naruto's eyes widened as another screech escaped his mouth. "WHAT! SAKURA-CHAN FAINTED?" Without wasting anymore time, he ran out of the room as loudly as he had came in.

"Well, he's energetic." Itachi said as he stared at the now dented door of his room.

Kakashi gave a snort from behind his mask. "You have no idea."

Giving a small shake of his head, Itachi leaned back against his headboard and stared at the ceiling. "Konoha has changed quite a bit, Kakashi-san."

A nostalgic look crossed Kakashi's lone eye. "Yeah…" He gave a short laugh. "...For starters you're no longer that whiny little brat that kept pestering me on what life was like as a genin."

"Hey, I was in academy at that time, and the status of a genin seems so glorious." Itachi argued back.

"You couldn't have found another genin to bother?" Kakashi asked from behind his book.

"I suppose, but you were the only one I deemed worthy."

Kakashi gave a short laugh. "I'm glad you're back Itachi."

"It's good to be back."

Gray, ashen smoke rose from the roofs of houses as the smell of death lingered in the stale air. The sound of cackling fire and dying screams could be heard from miles away. The once sturdy architecture was now sunken to the ground. Roofs collapsed, doors kicked in and windows shattered. The dirt path was now stained with the blood of the innocent. Bodies of men women and children carpeted the village floor, blood spilling from every inch of their body. Their hollow, dead eyes stared at each other, as their faces were contorted in fear and pain.

"Done?" One sound shinobi spoke as he ruthlessly kick aside the body of a toddler, watching with amusement as the tiny body slammed into one of the fallen houses before falling face first back onto the bloody ground.

"Yeah." Another replied as he stepped out from one of the burning houses carrying an arm full of gold and silver.

"Really? You're going to steal?" His friend asked unamused as he stared down at the loot.

"Orochimaru-sama hardly pays us enough."

Two cackles could be heard in the barren village.

"Let's get going."

"Yeah, the message has been sent."

The two sound shinobi laughed and talked amongst themselves as they left the Tea village. Leaving behind a wasteland of dead bodies in which limbs were scattered everywhere and a steady flow of blood streamed down the streets of the village like tiny rivers. The smell of blood mixed with rotting flesh and soot perfectly defined the smell of death.

Orochimaru had formally declared war against Konoha.

there will be more sasusaku moments up ahead. (most of which is humiliating for sakura curtasey of itachi

and the showdown between oro and konoha is sooon :D

and sorry for this late update, been busy with trying to write a new chapter, school and tumblr… XD

anywhooo…please leave a review, it's greatly appreciated!