A/N: Before you get to reading, I'd like to address some things about this story.

I received a flood of emails from one reader who was accusing my story of plot holes and not following the Lore of the Naruto Universe. Essentially making me feel like a dumbass who didn't have any right to write about one of my favorite pairings.

In my best efforts to not sound like an utter douchebag (if you don't understand, look it up on Urban Dictionary) I'd like to say one thing:

Yes, there will be plot holes, but this is MY Fan Fiction, and it will not fully follow the original Naruto Lore, but it's MY choice as to where it goes.

If you're so concerned about the original Naruto Lore, please don't read my story, because I won't change the way I write just because you think I'm wrong.

There was also a reader who told me that I didn't know what I was writing when I re-introduced Sasuke to the story("it's a NaruSaku story, not a SasuSaku story.") Trust me, I know the pairing is NaruSaku.

Remember that the basis for every story is Conflict. If there was no conflict, there would be no story.

CHAPTER RATING: T

Episode 23 - Faded Flames

"Sakura…don't you feel the same way?" Sasuke asked. Sakura turned and took Sasuke's hand.

"Sasuke-kun…Things have changed in the nine years that you've been gone." Sakura said as she gripped his hand tighter. "You left us for Orochimaru, and you even refused to come back with us when we met you again."

"But I told you, I had to do that to convince Orochimaru that I was with him!" Sasuke spoke up. "I really mean it this time, Sakura! You are the the one I want to be with!" he grasped her hand even tighter.

"Sasuke-kun…I'm sorry, but I love someone else now. You weren't there when I needed you, he was always with me, and he's the one that I love now."

"Who is it? Naruto?" Sasuke said in a deep tone. Sakura nodded to answer him. "I see. He's lucky to have you. I regret not being there for you, Sakura. I'm sorry; can you forgive me?"

Sakura heard a weakness in his voice that she had never heard from him before. She slow let go of his hand and nodded.

"It's okay, Sasuke-kun. I'll forgive you." She turned and exited the room.

Behind her, Sasuke smirked.

…

Sakura caught up with Naruto as he walked out of the Hokage's office. She waved to him as he turned around.

"Naruto, where have you been?" She asked him.

"Oh…Uh…I was just talking with Kakashi sensei about our next mission." He lied, remembering that Tsunade had commanded both Naruto and Shikamaru that the meeting they had about Sasuke had never happened.

"Really? What is our next mission?" Sakura asked.

"Uh…well, we haven't actually talked about it that much, so I actually don't know what we're doing yet. But I'm sure we'll know within the next few days."

Sakura grabbed his arm with her own and dragged him along towards the Hokage cliff-face.

"I need to talk to you, but let's race to the top of the cliff first, just to make sure that we're both healthy, what do you say?"

"On your mark." Naruto said with a smile.

Both of them channeled chakra into their feet and raced upwards across the Hokage mountain faces. Naruto felt better than before, the pain in his ribs that had been exploited a few weeks ago was beginning to heal, he felt stronger than he had in months.

Both of them simultaneously reached the top of the cliff. When they did, they turned and gazed at the orange-tinted sunset. They sat on the cliff edge, Sakura gently set her head on Naruto's shoulder.

"Naruto, there's something I need to talk to you about." She began.

"What is it, Sakura-chan?"

"I need to talk to you about Sasuke-kun." Naruto eyes widened as he wondered what she could want to talk about concerning Sasuke.

"Today, I visited him in the hospital, by request." She said as she lowered her head. "And there's something he told me." She brought her head up and looked into his eyes. "He told me that he loved me…" Naruto's fist tightened at her words. "He said that he's been thinking about me for the last nine years…"

Naruto closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"But then, what happened?"

"I told him that I didn't feel the same way, it seems like that caused him more sadness. I don't know what we'll do."

"Sakura-chan," Naruto started as he placed a hand on her shoulder and looked at her. "I'm sure Sasuke will be alright, he's been through a lot since we've known him; and he did something that no one else could have done, he killed Orochimaru and Kabuto. What else could he have done to gain our trust?...I'm sure he can be trusted." He smiled his impeccable smile. Her expression sunk as he spoke. "But…" Sakura's expression softened. "If he can't be trusted…I'll make sure nothing happens to you."

They embraced each other and looked forward toward the sunset.

…

The next day, Naruto woke up to a knock on his door. He turned the knob and opened the door.

"Sasuke…?" He said with shock. "W-What is it? What do you want?"

"I just came over to see if you were interested in a little training session. It's been a long, long time since we both trained together."

"Uh…S-Sure. Just give me a few minutes to get ready." Naruto turned back and returned to him a few minutes later.

They walked side by side to the old training grounds they had attended so long ago. Sasuke took a deep breath.

"Naruto, I need to tell you something." He started. "I'd like to give you my sincere apologies for everything I've done. Everything I've ever said to you about being inferior to me, everything that I've done…I'm sorry. Please, try and understand that the only reason why I was so harsh to you is because I actually see you as my rival…As an equal."

"Do you really mean that?" Naruto asked as Sasuke nodded. "I'm happy that you feel that way. But just because we're friends, doesn't mean that we can't take each other seriously when training, right?" Naruto said with enthusiasm.

"Alright, I've already told Sakura to meet us here, she said that she'll be a little late, so we're start first." Sasuke extended his fist towards Naruto.

Naruto stared at Sasuke's fist, his mouth hung open and his eyes held disbelief; he closed his eyes, smiled, and extended his arm, meeting Sasuke's fist with his own.

They both spread out and faced each other across a large meadow. They both bowed and took their ready stances. They both smirked and charged towards one another.

As they closed the distance, Naruto brought his hands up and blocked Sasuke's right leg. In one swift motion, he took hold of Sasuke's leg and tossed him back across the meadow. Sasuke turned in mid-air and recovered from the fall.

"You've gotten better, Naruto." Sasuke complimented him as he charged again. Naruto landed a kick on Sasuke's forearm, pushing him further back with the impact. Sasuke took hold of Naruto's tracksuit, crouched and took to the air. He forcefully tossed Naruto down and turned to deliver a downward heel kick directly onto Naruto's back.

Naruto crashed to the ground with a loud thud; with a puff of smoke he disappeared.

"A shadow clone? Where is he?" Sasuke thought aloud. His head moved around quickly, scanning his surroundings to find Naruto; he felt a strong presence behind him and turned around to find two shadow clones charging towards him. He prepared for impact and shielded his face. The shadow clones slid towards him and sent him into the air.

Sasuke's head flew back at the impact. In the middle of flight, he regained his composure and managed to align his body to face towards the earth.

"Katon! Gōkakyū no Jutsu!" He blew into his hands and watched as a giant fireball engulfed the two shadow clones, who disappeared. The heat from the fireball launched Sasuke further upwards.

When the smoke cleared, Sasuke saw Naruto's shadow clones launching himself towards Sasuke. The two collided in the sky. Sasuke caught Naruto's fist with his own hand. He grasped Naruto's arm and twisted in mid air.

Naruto's back was facing the ground as they plummeted towards Earth. Sasuke held Naruto's face still; Naruto's eyes widened in confusion as he heard Sasuke speak while in the freefall.

"I consider you my equal, but you are nowhere near my skill." Sasuke looked into Naruto's eyes.

Naruto froze as he saw Sasuke's crimson pupils take on the form of a blood-stained flower.

…

Sakura emerged from the forest to see something falling from the sky. She watched as an impact collided with the ground. When she saw the dust cloud rise towards the sky, she ran towards the sound.

"Sakura!" Sasuke shouted. "Quick, Naruto's been hurt!" Sakura ran towards Sasuke with great urgency.

"What happened?" She asked him.

"We were training and Naruto became too reckless, he's hurt himself, he doesn't respond when I try to wake him up!"

Sakura rushed towards Naruto and helped him sit up. She waved her hand in front of his eyes, but he gave her no response.

"Sasuke-kun! We have to get him help right away!" Sasuke nodded.

"Let me try something." He looked into Naruto's eyes as his eyes shifted again into the petal shaped pupils.

Naruto let in a deep, desperate gasp for air as he came to.

"What happened?" he asked cluelessly.

"It doesn't matter," Sasuke replied. "At least you're okay now."

Sakura helped Naruto up to his feet. Naruto smiled at her and looked towards Sasuke.

He saw Sasuke's eyes change again, and began to hear a voice in his head as Sakura began to stand up.

Naruto…I told you once that you didn't understand the same pain…the same loss that I felt when Itachi killed my entire clan.

Now, you will understand that pain. You will understand that pain, and suffer.

Sasuke held out his hand as Sakura was turning towards him.

"Chidori Eisō" (Thousand Birds Sharp Spear). Sasuke closed his eyes as the blue energy rushed towards Sakura.

Naruto felt his breath rush back into his lungs.

"SAKURA-CHAN!"