…Hey you know what I DO own… no…no, it's Not Naruto….

Chapter 5: Tsunade's Offer

"Alright, that's enough lying about." Kakashi sauntered into Sakura's room. "Naruto—time for you and me to go do some training."

"Awww… but Kakashi-sensei! You told me from now on I'd have to learn everything on my own."

"That doesn't mean we can't train together." He stared lazily at the blond. "Come on, I'm sure Sakura could use a break from you anyhow."

"That's not true!" Naruto said indignantly. "Sakura told me she enjoyed my company!"

He looked accusingly at her. She did her best to hide her smile.

"I do enjoy your company, Naruto, I promise. But you should go train with Kakashi. I don't want to be the strongest in the group…."

Naruto laughed. "Sakura-chan! You're almost back to your old self!"

With a final goodbye, she watched them leave, sighing as the door slammed shut behind them.

Wincing, Sakura eased herself up out of bed. Tsunade had told her not to move as much as possible, but she felt better after she walked around a little bit. She used some of her own healing ability to ease the pain, but her strength was not back to normal and she was unable to dispel it completely.

Sakura had a plan for today, and she needed to be able to walk to do it.

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Kakashi sprung backward, skipping out of the way of Naruto's attack.

The young man was going easy on him and was not using any of his elemental attacks. Kakashi smiled to himself. He wasn't sure if Naruto simply didn't want Kakashi to know all of his abilities or if he just wanted to win the harder way.

"Is that all you've got, Naruto?" He taunted.

"You won't win this time, Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto rushed at him. He always preferred attacking straight on. "I'm..(punch)…gonna…(punch)…win!...(kick)"

The copy nin leapt away again.

Naruto swung at him, barely missing. It was then that Kakashi spotted the knives for the first time.

He stopped sparring. "Naruto," he pointed to where the trench knives were secured to the boy's belt. "Where did you get those?"

"Oh…Kurenai-sensei gave them to me."

Kakashi didn't know what to say. He was surprised that it had occurred to Kurenai to give them to Naruto—especially after he had seen her using them herself in battle. But he also knew that Naruto was the only sensible choice to give them to. Only he had the wind-based chakra to use them properly.

"How come you aren't using them?"

Naruto shrugged. "It just doesn't seem…right…somehow. Seems like I should only use them to protect my friends."

Kakashi chuckled. "Naruto, you're something else!"

"Are we done yet? I could use some ramen." He pulled out his wallet. "I'll even treat!"

"Well," Kakashi patted him on the back. "There's an offer I can't refuse!"

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Tsunade breathed in a deep breath as her fingers closed around the door handle. She logically had no reason to keep Sasuke in the hospital anymore. His body had fully recovered from being overtaken and any injuries he had sustained during the battle had been minor and easy to fix. She knew she couldn't pretend any longer—and Sasuke knew it too.

She opened the door and stepped into the room.

"Good afternoon, Sasuke." She set down the tray she had brought with her. Tomatoes—supposedly his favorite.

"Hokage."

She walked over to where he was standing by the window. No doubt he knew she had ANBU placed all around watching the room. She had taken a huge risk by telling them to allow his nighttime movements. But maybe—just maybe—it had paid off.

"Do you know why I'm here, Sasuke?"

"Hn." He continued staring out the window. "I suspect it has something to do with me being healed for a while now."

She nodded, standing and looking out the window with him. "That's true. And I can no longer hold you here without your consent. You see, your situation is …difficult. You are not necessarily considered a criminal, but you are no longer considered part of Leaf."

He glanced over at her but remained silent.

"So, I'm here to offer you a deal," She continued. "I'm going to start with a question, though…."

"Yes," Sasuke said. "Yes, I do still intend to kill Itachi."

The hokage nodded. "I thought as much. So here's my offer…

"…you stay in Konaha…do your best to make amends for the harm you have caused… and in return—

"—in return I'll give your team the purpose of destroying Akatsuki."

She had Sasuke's attention.

"Now, your team will be one of two…I already have Shikamaru's team assigned to the same detail. But after what happened to Asuma… the more the better."

"Asuma?"

She had forgotten he probably didn't know.

"Yes, Asuma was killed a few months ago by the Akatsuki. We have mourned him greatly."

Sasuke did not reply.

"I'll give you today to think it over. I seriously hope that you will consider it. Goodness knows the elders fought me tooth and nail about it…" She shook her head. "That's nothing new, though."

"Think on it," she said, walking to the door. "I'll be back later this evening."

Sasuke said nothing as she walked out the door. This was definitely unexpected.

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The floor was cold on her feet but Sakura ignored it. She wrapped the thin hospital blanket tighter around her shoulders. Carefully, she descended the stairs, watchful to avoid the night nurses. Sakura was grateful that she had learned the ins and outs of the hospital so well. It was easier than one would think to avoid being seen.

Finally on the floor she wanted, she padded quietly down the hallway, stopping finally at the last door on her right.

The cloaked ANBU standing in the shadows at the end of the hallway let her pass without question.

Knocking timidly, she waited—but the door did not open.

Sakura frowned. Maybe he's sleeping already. She turned to leave but was startled by the ANBU standing only inches from her. Without a word, he reached out and opened the door for her.

"Thank…you…"Sakura stepped through. The door shut softly behind her.

"I told them no visitors," said a voice near the window.

Sasuke sat, feet propped up on the window sill, staring out at the setting sun.

"Oh… I'm sorry..I just…" No, wait a second! Sakura's eyes narrowed. "But you saw Kakashi."

Sasuke was silent.

She leaned against the door, her wound throbbing from all her activity. "…You mean you told them you didn't want certain visitors…"

"Sakura, you shouldn't have come here."

Damnit! Was there anything he said that didn't hurt her?

But Sakura had grown much over the years Sasuke was gone and she was no longer outwardly phased by his cold words. She wanted to walk closer to him but her body was shaking with the effort to remain standing—small hints of perspiration appearing on her brow. She gripped the molding tighter.

Sasuke heard her sigh.

"Are you feeling better?" She asked.

"I heal quickly."

There was a long silence. Sakura gingerly touched her bandaged abdomen. She held her fingers up to her face. In the dim light she could see a smear of blood. Her wound had opened. She closed her eyes, using the little chakra she had left to slow the bleeding. Tsunade was going to kill her—if she didn't kill herself.

Sakura gritted her teeth. "So…when are you planning on leaving?"

Sasuke turned and looked at her. He frowned at the sight of her white-knuckle grip on the door frame, the way she was shaking, the look of intense pain on her face.

He didn't answer her.

Sakura swallowed. "Well," she said, "I just wanted to say it was good to have you ba..bac…"

Before she could hit the floor, Sasuke was next to her, lifting her up. He had done it so many times in the past—and he had done it this time without thinking.

"Sakura," he said gently, aware that she probably could not hear him. "You should not have come here."

Gently nudging open the door, he stepped out into the hallway.

Where's that damn ANBU when I need him?

Sasuke frowned. It had been a long time since he had been in the hospital. He wasn't sure if he remembered how to get to Sakura's room.

You can't just stand here holding her like an idiot. He was annoyed. But he was annoyed at himself.

The walk to Sakura's room was not a long one, but on the way, Sasuke found himself thinking back to the past of team 7. They had meant something to him once. He knew they still did. But the memories from his stay at Orochimaru's had changed him. He knew things now that he could not forget.

"I have already lost everything once."

"I never want to see an important friend die in front of me again."

He had said that, once. He had meant it with his entire being. How could it have changed so much? So much that he would have killed them without a second thought? His best friends.

How do you say you're sorry for something like that?

"S-sasuke?" Sakura looked up at him, her eyes glazed and unfocused.

He kept his expression blank, reaching out and opening the door to her room.

He had placed her on the bed, about to toss her sheets over her when he noticed the blood on his arm.

"Saukra…"

She rolled weakly on the bed to look at him.

He looked at her hospital gown where a small patch of blood had seeped through. Suddenly angry, he grabbed her by the shoulders, shaking her. "Why? Why were you so foolish? You should have known better than to get out of bed!"

Her eyes went wide. "I just wanted to see you before you left," she whispered.

Sasuke sat on the bed, his back to her.

"I'm not leaving, Sakura. I've already talked to Tsunade."

She shivered, watching him with eyes full of fever. "Then…why didn't you come see me or Naruto?"

He couldn't answer her.

"Naruto… he's done so much…he's given so much for you…" her voice softened. "I won't let you just push him aside."

Sasuke looked at her, his face blank but inside he was shocked. She had changed so much. He almost thought that was a threat.

As Sasuke stood, Sakura coughed painfully.

It was harder than he thought it would be to walk to the door.

He stopped just inches from it and leaned his forehead against the smooth wood. "Sakura," he said, his fingers on the door handle, "I'm sorry."

And then he left.

She lay there for a while after, shaking and in pain, but she had a small smile on her face when Tsunade and the nurses came rushing in to help her.

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Coming ASAP- Chapter 6 : Training and Gaining back Trust

I may submit chapter six later today… it'll depend on how much free time I have! Don't worry, more action coming soon.