Chapter 16

Sakura looked at Ino and Shikamaru.

"I'm sorry… did I interrupt something?" Ino blushed even harder.

"NO!" Ino looked at the Shikamaru, unaware of the current circumstances. "SHIKAMARU NARA PLEASE PUT ON A SHIRT WE HAVE A GUEST" He was shaken out of this trance and in a flash he was gone. Ino ushered Sakura in. They reached the living room and the first question was.

"Is there something between you and Nara?" Ino's blush returned.

"Um..."

"So what are you doing here Sakura?" Sakura looked over at the now fully clothed Shikamaru.

"A better question is what are you doing here Nara?"

"You really can't tell?" Sakura raised her eyebrow. Shikamaru rolled his eyes.

"We DATING genius." Ino blushed even harder. Sakura was slightly shocked.

"So Yamanaka, you finally realised his feelings for you?"

"You knew?"

"Since the beginning of time… everyone did" Ino suddenly felt stupid. Shikamaru sat down next to Ino.

"So Sakura, what are you doing here? Come down to visit the commoners for once?" Sakura narrowed her eyes.

"Shika-kun, stop it, Forehead what's wrong, you haven't visited in like 5 years."

"Something happened."

"Did Sasuke do something to you again?"

"Yeah"

"That asshole…when I find him I'm gonna…"

"Wait, he didn't do anything wrong"

"Huh?"

"He melted the ice around my heart." Ino and Shikamaru looked at her with their eyes wide.

"You're kidding…"

"It's true."

"So what now? I thought you hated him but now you're dating?"

"I don't know if we still are…" Sakura returned to her meek form.

"Forehead…what happened?" Sakura looked up and explained everything.

*A few minutes later

"So you obtained Sharingan and now Sasuke is angry?"

"Yeah…" Shikamaru suddenly gained interest in the topic.

"Question, is your Sharingan the real deal?"

"I'm pretty sure it is."

"I see"

"Forehead… do you want me to call the other girls?"

"No it's ok. I've already disturbed you."

"What do you mean disturbed!? You don't know how happy I am that you visited me…it reminds me of the old days…"

"Yamanaka… I'm sorry for being cold in the past but in all honestly I haven't changed much" Ino smiled.

"You've changed enough." Sakura managed a smile.

"Oh yeah Forehead. When's our next performance?" Shikamaru looked at her in confusion.

"Performance?"

"Sakura's the lead singer of our band, we use to put shows on for the village when we were free"

"Oh, I think we'll be doing in a few days since he's back and everything" Ino wriggled her eyebrows at her.

"For him hey?" Colour rose to Sakura's cheeks. "Wait, isn't you're birthday in a few days?"

"Oh yeah in 2 days"

"Well do the show on your birthday!"

"I guess, might as well" Sakura stood up. "I'll be leaving now. I've got some things I need to do. See you later…Ino" Ino's eyes shined as she heard Sakura say her first name for the first time in 5 years. She flung herself on her, bear hugging her. Sakura looked shocked and hesitantly returned the hug.

"Come again Forehead"

"I will" Ino released her and in a flash Sakura was gone. Sakura reappeared in the forest. She was slightly shaking as she had experienced physical contact after such a long time. She jumped into the tree tops and stared at the scenery. She started thinking about the show and what songs they were going to perform but then she sensed something. She whipped around to find it was a small bird with a scroll attached to it. She leaned towards it and it didn't move. She suspected the scroll was for her. She jumped down the tree and found that the bird followed her. It definitely was for her. As she undid the scroll from the bird, she made a small note that the bird slightly looked like the one Kenji used to use. But she shook the thoughts of Kenji out of her mind. When she took the scroll, the bird flew away. Slowly she opened it and as she read it her eyes widened and she started growling, hands clutching at the parchment tightly.

Dear Sakura-chan

You're weaker than I thought you were. I saw that little scene between you and that blonde bimbo of yours. How I got into Konoha is none of your concern. What is your concern is that if you don't come and save your blonde friend in the next day or so consider her dead. Take the leaf and follow it to my hideout, it will direct you to it. Come alone Sakura-chan unless you want another comrade to die by my hand…

Orochimaru

Sakura rolled the scroll and ran back the village and banged on Ino's door.

"YAMANAKA!" Instead it was Shikamaru who was looked panicky.

"Nara! Where's Yamanaka?!"

"I can't find her!" Sakura's eyes widened.

"He wasn't lying" Shikamaru looked her in confusion and stared after her as she raced to the Hokage Tower. Sakura burst into the Hokage's room to find Tsunade doing paperwork. Tsunade glared at Sakura.

"Sakura! You should now by know that you knock! I was-"

"I DON'T GIVE AN F!" Tsunade looked at her in shock. "My comrade is in danger and I request a solo mission to retrieve her." Sakura threw the scroll and Tsunade read it.

"It could be a-"

"I don't care if it's a trap. Nara couldn't find her. With or without your permission, I'm leaving the village" Tsunade sighed.

"Fine you have my permission but you must promise me that you will return in time for the show"

"Why?"

"You and your band fills people with hope, something you've haven't done in a long time"

"I see"

"You leave in 15 minutes"

"Hai" With that Sakura took back the scroll and walked out the door.

*With Sasuke

Sasuke guzzled down the sake glass after glass after glass. It had been a while since he had drunk alcohol. He vaguely made out Karin's outline next to him as she was muttering about some nonsense. He suddenly started feeling unconscious. Karin caught him right before he blacked out. She wrapped his arm around her neck and she took him back to her new home in Konoha. She put him in bed and then snuggled up next to him.

"You will always be mine Sasuke –kun" she thought as she too fell asleep.

*With Shikamaru

"Where are you Ino!" he thought and then as he ran back to their home he smelt her scent. He raced in and found her hair slightly wet.

"Shika-kun…what's wrong?" Without another word, he ran up to her and embraced her as tightly as he could

"Shika-kun…"

"Don't scare me like that again…" Ino hugged him back and nodded in his shoulder. When they let go, he asked

"But where were you?"

"The ladies bath." Shikamaru's sweat dropped.

*With Sasuke

Sasuke opened his eyes and immediately knew that he had a hangover and it was a strong one. He got up and found there was a red thing next him. His eyes widened in disbelief when he saw that the red thing was a person. He jumped out of bed and thought "What the hell am I doing in bed with KARIN! We couldn't have…no even if I'm drunk I would never do that with Karin….disgusting" He quickly fixed himself up left the house as quickly as he could. He set out looking for Sakura but to his confusion he couldn't find her. He went to the Hokage to ask only to find her in despair.

"Tsunade…what's wrong?" Tsunade handed him a letter.

"It's for you"

Dear Sasuke-kun

Your little wussy fell into such an obvious trap. Her old feelings are starting to return and it's your fault. But it's ok. My plan is running smoothly, Sakura will be broken once more before she dies. I am at the Eastern Hideout. Come and see your blossom get crushed once more both physically and emotionally.

Orochimaru

Sasuke scrunched up the note and left the building as quickly as he could. Tsunade didn't need an explanation to know where he was going.

"Please bring her and her heart back in one piece Sasuke"

*With Sasuke

"How could she get tricked like that?!" he thought. He was racing as fast as he could towards the Eastern Hideout. But since it was in another village, it still took time. He just wished he would get there in time.

*With Sakura

Sakura looked at the leaf which had landed on the entrance of the hideout. She took a deep breath and entered it. She looked around to find rows of large glass cylinders with people inside. She almost gagged as she knew that they were Orochimaru's experiments.

"Good job wussy. You are capable of following instructions." Sakura whipped around to find Orochimaru smirking cruelly at her.

"Orochimaru…what have you done with Yamanaka?!"

"What are you talking about Sakura-chan?" Orochimaru smirked at her.

"You kidnapped her! Give her back"

"Tsk Tsk, Sakura chan I never thought that you would be tricked so easily." Sakura's eyes widened at the realisation. Her emotions had gotten the better of her.

"Ne Sakura chan…"

"What do you want you sick bastard?" Her mind was formulating a plan of getting out of the hideout.

"Don't even think of escaping, there are few ninjas here that you don't want to deal with…"

*With Sasuke

"I see the hideout… let me be in time"

*With Sakura

"Huh, like your ninjas can scare me. Show me your best one" Sakura bit her tongue and thought why did I have to say that?! Orochimaru looked at her in amusement.

"Very well…come out of the shadows" a figure stepped out and he made Sakura's blood freeze. Her breathing became uneven and she began to sweat. She took a step back as she looked at the face that had caused her so much grief, His dirty blonde hair that she could recognise anyway.

"It's been a while…Sakura" Sakura's eyes widened the masculine voice that use to tease her daily.

"K-Ke-Ken-Kenji…"

Sasuke crept into the hideout only to find a shaking Sakura and a tall male in front of her.

Sakura felt another chakra signature but nothing mattered except of the man that stood in front of her.

"You're supposed to be dead…"

"I faked the death…"

"Y-you said you were a Rain nin…"

"Lying is one of my specialties"

"Were your feelings fake as well?..." At this Kenji hesitated but never the less he said

"…Yes" Sakura dropped to her knees. Sasuke listened to their conversation and came to a conclusion that man was Kenji. The Kenji that Sakura had told him about. The picture of him that Sakura had was different though. His eyes were ones of happiness and carefreeness. The man that stood in front of her was a stone man much like his old self.

"I'm sorry Sakura…your time ends now" Sakura was still shaking and it seems that she didn't hear him. Kenji whipped out a kunai and lunged at her. Sasuke raced out and blocked it just in time. Sakura looked up at Sasuke's protective stance. Kenji's eyes narrowed for a second before he jumped back to where Orochimaru was.

"Uchiha Sasuke…"

"S-Sasuke…"

"Welcome back Sasuke-kun"

Sasuke looked at Sakura and picked her up princess style.

"I'm sorry but we will be taking our leave now" He threw a smoke bomb and raced off. Kenji covered his head and cursed. When his vision was clear again he was about to chase after them but Orochimaru's voice stopped him.

"Kenji, put back for now. I believe we have shattered Sakura-chan enough for today" Orochimaru smirked. Kenji bowed and followed him. He looked back for a spilt second and the pink haired entered his mind before she disappeared just as quickly.

*With Sasuke and Sakura

Sasuke kept on running, careful not to hurt the fragile item in his arms. He ran far enough until he knew that they were far enough from the hideout and when he made sure that they weren't following them. He set down Sakura who was still shaking from the shock. He sighed and set up camp for the night. He caught some fish from the stream nearby. When he returned, he found Sakura up in a tree staring at the moon. He sighed and cooked the fish. When they were ready he headed up the tree. Sakura glanced at the person next to her and sighed. Her eyes had begun to grow cold again.

"I'm not hungry Uchiha, eat it yourself" Sasuke winced at the last name term.

"Sakura you have to eat something" Sakura glared at him, he anger suddenly flaring. She jumped down and started walking away. Sasuke followed.

"Sakura! You need to get food in your stomach" She whipped around, her emerald eyes filled with rage.

"HOW CAN I POSSIBLY EAT?! HOW CAN I DO ANYTHING KNOWING THAT HE IS ALIVE?!" Sakura suddenly fell to her knees and broke down.

"My heart can't take this anymore…. It's been destroyed twice! I CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE!" Sasuke then dropped down too and embraced her.

"Sakura…if you're in pain, I will bear half that pain. If you're sad, I will bear half that sadness. If you're in danger, I will protect you. I will take care of your heart. I will mend it and make it as it once was. So please just let me in…" Sakura's eyes widened in his chest and she started crying like there was no tomorrow. Sasuke tightened his grip on her and his face was in anguish as if feeling her pain. The two ended up falling asleep in each other's arms. They both woke the next day blushing as they saw their position. They jumped up and awkwardly made off back to Konoha. Sakura was still a little grief struck from the events that had passed but felt a little better that Sasuke was by her side. They returned to Konoha to find their friends waiting at the entrance all looking worried. They saw the two return and ran up to them.

"Sakura! Sasuke!" Ino ran up to Sakura and hugged her. Sakura stiffened but then relaxed at the embrace. The girls talked to Sakura and the guys talked to Sasuke.

"Sakura! Are you hurt?!" Ino asked.

"No…not physically anyway… What are you all doing here?" Ino looked guilty.

"Sorry I kind of told them everything…" Sakura shook her head.

"I knew you couldn't keep your mouth shut"

"I'm SORRY!"

"It's fine…"

"But what happened Sakura-chan?" asked TenTen

"Kenji….he's alive" the girls all gasped. They were aware of who Kenji was and what had happened to him.

"That's impossible… didn't he die?" asked Ino. The others glared at her and she looked at them in confusion.

"Apparently not…"

"Sakura let's on dwell on that right now. We have a show tonight…" said TenTen

"What… wait it's my birthday?"

"Y-Yes S-Sakura…it i-is" said Hinata

"Oh…

*With the guys

"Good going Sasuke" said Shikamaru

"Hn"

"What happened?" asked Naruto

"Nothing"

"Uchiha, its Haruno's birthday today"

"I don't c-wait what…"

"Oh yeah! Sakura-chan's birthday is today isn't it!" They all fell silent.

"SHIMATA! I DIDN'T GET HER A PRESENT!" with a rush Naruto was at the shops. The rest of the guys looked at him and shook their heads.

"You got her anything Sasuke?" Sasuke thought back to the Uchiha necklace that was once his mother's that was still in his house.

"I have something…" Shikamaru and Neji smirked at him.

"Not bad Uchiha…not bad"

*With the girls

"Sakura…have you thought of any songs for tonight's concert? It's being held at the new stadium that Captain Yamato and the other jounin ninja's help build just for us"

"I see. We must thank them. I've been thinking about it through but I haven't got the ones exactly. We have a few hours to practise"

"So Sakura I heard that this concert was for him" TenTen teased her, wriggling her eyebrows. Sakura shook and turned to Ino.

"Ya…ma..na..ka…"

"Sakura….um… how do I put this…."

"Korosu…" Ino then ran around them screaming, TenTen and Hinata started laughing. Little did they know, a pair of jealous red eyes was watching them. Karin's jaw clenched. What's so good about her anyway? She has pink hair for god sake. Wait did MY Sasuke-kun come back with her TOGETHER!? She is so dead. It's time to put my brilliant plan in action…

Karin approached them. Sasuke first noticed her and he took a step back, anticipating her fan girling. To his surprise, she didn't. Sakura and everyone else noticed the change and Sakura narrowed her eyes. Karin stopped right in front of Sasuke who was confused and slightly suspicious. She finally spoke.

"Sasuke-kun…." Everyone braced themselves. At her next words everyone froze.

I'm pregnant…with your child