Title - Unexpected Turn of Life

Disclaimer – I don't own Naruto…

'….' – Thoughts

"…..." – Speaking

Chapter 18

No one's POV

"OWW! OUCH! STOP TEME!" yelled Naruto. "NO! Not the face! I can't go to the party with a swollen face!" he exclaimed, defending his face. Sasuke rolled his eyes.

"There's no one interested in your face, Dobe" stated Sasuke, bored. "You can't keep your loud mouth shut, so you deserve this! Telling everything to Aniki! You even spread false rumor about me being panicked, no?" asked Sasuke and folded his arms on his chest.

"But that's the truth! You're just stubborn to admit! Admit it, Teme!" retorted Naruto as he removed his hands from his face. He huffed. Sasuke's eyebrow twitched.

"There's nothing to admit, Dobe" he said as he went towards his bed.

They both were in Sasuke's room. Naruto was happy at first as he went along with his best friend but as soon as they entered his room, Sasuke bonked him on his head which triggered their arguments. Seems like Sasuke was waiting for this the whole day and it was already evening as the sun just set below the horizon.

Naruto snickered. "I see… you are just scared to admit! Ha! TEME IS AFRAID!" he exclaimed and laughed but soon his laughter stopped as he had to dodge a heavy book, which Sasuke threw at him.

"Urusai, Baka. I'm not scared of anything. Did you forget who I am?" asked Sasuke, glaring at him while Naruto kept ranting.

"TEME IS SCARED~! TEME IS SCARED~!"

"SHUT IT, DOBE! Or else" Sasuke threatened when suddenly the door opened revealing Itachi, who had a dangerous look. His hair flew on his face as he jerked forward and glared intensely, carrying a scary aura.

"IF you two do not SHUT UP now, I'll make your life HELL" said Itachi from the door. Both Sasuke and Naruto backed away as they saw some sinister aura around Itachi.

"H-Hai!"

"Good. Naruto, Minato-san called and is looking for you" said Itachi, leaving the two. Both the best friends exhaled relieved as Itachi left and the door closed.

"T-That was actually scary…" muttered Naruto.

"Yeah…" Sasuke agreed with him.

"Ha! This proves you are scared!" exclaimed Naruto, pointing his finger at Sasuke while Sasuke glared at him, reaching for the fork on the table which Naruto had brought with him along with some snacks for them. Naruto sweat dropped.

"Oops! Dad is looking for me! I better go now!" exclaimed Naruto and dashed through the door. Sasuke smirked triumphantly. He lay on his bed and sighed.

'That Pinky is giving me headache… And why am I thinking this again?' he thought and closed his eyes.

Meanwhile…

"I don't care! I just want the pass! Then I'll give you that darn parcel, once I enter the party!" exclaimed Karin, on the phone. "And I'm busy so do not disturb me. See you at the party!" she added and hung up.

On the other side, Kabuto smirked and shut his phone. "Of course" he muttered. 'I couldn't get a hold of that woman as she's always surrounded by that Suigetsu…' he thought and sighed.

"I'm surprised that Orochimaru-sama is interested in it. Anyway, he has a score to settle with the Uchiha's…" he added.

"That thing is priceless; I heard the master say that…" said a person from behind kabuto. He was lying lazily on the couch with closed eyes.

"Hmm… Well, it's a little risky I must say… as it's related to Uchiha's… Don't you think Kimimaru? " asked Kabuto as he pushed his glasses up.

"Isn't it good? It'll be interesting. We can also get our hands on other valuables… We're thieves after all…" said Kimimaru and smirked while Kabuto sighed, pondering over his thoughts.

Sakura's Apartment….

Sakura sighed as she saw the shopping bags on her bed. It was already evening and she was tired because of shopping. Her friends just left her house. She glanced around her room and frowned. It was all messy. So sweet that her friends stayed with her to take care of her when she was sick and also went to shop their dresses but…

"WHO WILL CLEAN THIS UP?!" she yelled.

Sakura was spacing out and thinking about yesterday's events. Her friends had been saying that it was so cute and nice of him- 'Her boyfriend' and he was so worried and how he had carried her. He even helped her and dropped her off to her house and also came along with her. She had even blushed when he was close… but that was just because of the fever, ne…? She sighed at the thought.

'But he has helped me and didn't expect anything in return… which is surprising… Come to think of it… did I thank him? I don't remember… I guess not' she thought.

She started cleaning her room and was done in half hour. She glanced at her bag after she picked up the clothes and kept them away. She went towards it as she remembered that box was in it and opened her bag.

'How forgetful can I get…?' she thought. Sakura frowned. She had dumped all her things on the bed but couldn't see the small box. She panicked.

'Where did it go?!' she thought, looking around. She had just cleaned up her room but didn't come across the box.

'We have kept it in this bag, I remember!' exclaimed her inner self. 'I know that! But it's not here!' she thought and sweated.

"If Uchiha finds out… t-then I'm dead! He will not kill me, right…?" she muttered to herself.

Just then her phone started ringing, causing her to jump in surprise. She picked up her cell phone and saw 'Uchiha Sasuke'. She gulped and sweated.

'Why is he calling?! Anyway, I must act normal. Relax…' she thought; cleared her throat and received the call.

"What do you want?" asked Sakura, trying to keep her normal voice.

(Phone conversation)…..

"It seems that you have got better now, Pinky" said Sasuke. Sakura's eyebrow twitched.

"Yes. I'm sure you haven't called just to ask that. Why did you call?" asked Sakura, sounding irritated.

"Hn. Just wanted make sure you have put my money in good use" stated Sasuke.

"What do you mean JERK?! I only bought a dress and shoes from your so called boutique! And when I bought, the cashier said it's paid already! I'll pay you back! YOU GOT IT!" Sakura half-yelled whereas Sasuke put away his cell phone away from his ear but still could hear her clearly. He raised his eyebrow at her 'Pay you back' statement.

"For your information, I was not going to your recommended place but Ino-pig dragged me there saying you had planned to surprise me. At least tell me your plans before acting on them! I had to act like I was surprised, you Idiot!" Sakura ranted, frustrated.

'That 'surprise' part must be the Dobe's idea' thought Sasuke, as Naruto was the one who informed Ino.

"Oh? What did you say to them?" asked Sasuke, now intrigued.

"Well, I told them 'OMG! So sweet of Sasuke-kun! He's-…! WAIT…! Why am I telling you this anyway?!" complained Sakura and sighed.

"I'm flattered you think of me like that, Haruno…" commented Sasuke, amused.

"You're not sweet!" she exclaimed.

"How did you know, Haruno? When did you-…" asked Sasuke. Sakura blushed red and before he could complete his sentence, she interrupted.

"I didn't mean it like that Y-YOU PERVERT!" exclaimed Sakura. Sasuke chuckled.

"Hn. Anyway, I just wanted to remind you about the box. I'll come to get you at eight pm sharp. Be ready, Pinky" said Sasuke. Sakura gulped.

"O-Okay. W-what is in it…? Can you tell me…?" asked Sakura, trying not to stutter.

"I would like to say… None of your business. You didn't opened it, did you?" asked Sasuke, frowning.

"NO! Why would I ask then…?" questioned Sakura and sweat dropped.

"Hn"

She was sure he'll hang up now but was surprised when he answered.

"It's something that belongs to my mother. She treasures it but due to some circumstances I cannot keep it with me… yet" he said and sighed.

"I see… I got it! G-Good night, Uchiha!" exclaimed Sakura and hung up.

'We had a long conversation but I got no information! Well… I was the one blabbering though…' she thought and sweat dropped.

(End of phone conversation)…

"I'm in a serious trouble now! What's bad is that it belongs to his mother and I have no idea where it is!" said Sakura as she grabbed her hair. She paced around the room back and forth.

'Yeah… I'm sure he'll kill us! We should run now! Pack the bags and leave the city!' exclaimed her inner self.

'And then what? No one is out there where I can go' she thought and lay on her bed. She closed her eyes, thinking what should be done now… and drifted off to sleep.

Uchiha mansion…

"So how is our Sakura-chan?" asked Itachi, standing behind Sasuke, who just shut his phone and was smirking.

Sasuke raised is eyebrow. 'Our…?'

"Aniki? You were eavesdropping. Why are you in my room?" asked Sasuke, not so surprised. Itachi stretched and sat on the couch lazily.

"Not really… it would have been better if you had put it on loudspeaker though…" said Itachi and sighed, faking disappointment. Sasuke rolled his eyes at him, giving the 'As if' look. Itachi chuckled and continued, "Can't I visit my dear little brother?"

"We talked just ten minutes ago at dinner… what's the matter?" asked Sasuke and sat on his bed. Itachi paused and looked at Sasuke, sighing.

"Orochimaru is on the move, Sasuke…" said Itachi with a serious look. Sasuke frowned and looked at Itachi, intrigued.

"My sources informed me that they have seen Kabuto in the shop named Imperial Palace two days ago. He faked a name as being the shop manager's cousin for a short while" explained Itachi as he leaned back and looked up at the ceiling, thinking. Sasuke looked at him, dumbfounded.

"Imperial Palace…? That's…" said Sasuke but Itachi interrupted him.

"That's where you going to receive the box and you sent Haruno Sakura to retrieve it, right?" asked Itachi, nonchalantly.

"Yes. I had no choice… Information leaked, so I had to change the plan and I told you about it. I knew his gang will be on the move…" said Sasuke and sighed. Itachi closed his eyes, thinking.

"Hn. You thought no one will notice? Apparently, Kabuto was already there to steal it when Sakura-chan arrived there before he could leave. So, he had no choice but to give it to her as there were already people outside the shop. He didn't want to cause commotion I think…" explained Itachi. Sasuke heard intently.

"I see… I thought if an unknown person retrieves it, it will look like some normal shopping. Besides, they are familiar with our people and those who work for us. So, I had sent her but…" said Sasuke and frowned.

"I understand what you thought Sasuke… but that was really risky on Sakura-chan's part. I assumed that something like that may happen so I had already sent Kisame and team who kept Kabuto busy for the time being" said Itachi. His eyes turned more serious as he added, "You do get that Sakura's life was in danger because of that, right?"

Sasuke looked down as he realized what Itachi said was true. 'What if Aniki hadn't sent Kisame's team…' he thought and pondered over his thoughts. How can he ignore such a possibility? Moreover, she stays ALONE!

As if reading his younger brother's thoughts, Itachi smirked. "Is my Otouto scared of losing his precious Cherry blossom…?" he teased but there was seriousness hinted in his voice while Sasuke heard him but remained silent. Itachi sighed.

"Aniki, I told her to keep it with her and she will bring it tomorrow… Should I go-…" said Sasuke but Itachi chuckled making him stop.

"Don't worry, Otouto… I have already assigned people around her who can protect her if something happens. And I can't let our mother's precious property be stolen again by some petty thieves" said Itachi while Sasuke looked up at him, surprised as his eyes widened a little. Itachi shrugged and stood. He trudged towards the door while Sasuke watched him.

"Well… I had always been cleaning your mess, no? Don't you think… you're 'lucky' to have me as your big brother? Good night Otouto" Itachi pointed out and smirked as he went out the room.

Sasuke's eyebrow twitched as he glared at the back of his elder brother. As soon Itachi was out, Sasuke smiled a little 'I guess so…'. He went to sleep, thinking 'I have to keep an eye out as well… Tomorrow will be a long day…'

To be continued….

A/N – That's it for now! Next chapter will be party, so stay tuned! I hope you review! Thank you!