Clash

by keoo19

It was supposed to be an easy escort mission. But what was easy when you had a hotheaded Kunoichi and a stoic Ninja? Especially when their names are none other than Haruno Sakura and Hatake Kakashi. KakaSaku, Slight SasuSaku. Rated M for Language & Content.

16. Reminiscence

Reminiscence

---

She pressed a hand on her wound to stifle the blood as she limped back to their hiding place. She couldn't waste her chakra on healing the wound. The gash to her stomach wasn't as small as she originally thought, but it wasn't critical. It was just, as a medic, she knew that with the rate of the blood gushing out of her body, she would die in less than two hours. With this in mind, she pressed harder, despite the pain. The fight wasn't over until Kakashi said it was, and he was currently nowhere to be found. He wasn't in the best shape when he jumped off 10 minutes ago to handle the oncoming ninja, but who was she to judge? She wasn't in a place to talk; because she's sure she was as banged up as he was before she took care of those two mercenaries…if not more. Upon reaching what was their dugout under an array of bushes, she stumbled and tripped, and fell right into it.

"Ouch…" She groaned as she rolled over, trying to get into a position where she wouldn't be seen.

How long would Kakashi take?

He said it seemed like a lot of them coming, and it's been a little too long. He said he'd be back in 12 minutes, and it's been 14. She granted him the extra minute considering his tendency to make people wait. But on a mission like this…their last mission…he wouldn't be that late. She was worried about him coming back, but in their situation, she didn't dare consider the alternative.

With a hand still pressed against her wound, she prepared herself to look for him.

"Damn it." She heard a raspy curse and a loud 'thud' before she saw a figure. It was Kakashi. He lay spread-eagle in their dugout. She watched his chest rise and fall rapidly before he snatched the Anbu mask off of his face. He wouldn't dare pull down the other one…It was then that she noticed the blood seeping into his hair and running down his face from a gash on his forehead. He squinted at the dirt on her clothing.

"How'd you get down here?" He asked, almost sarcastically.

"Oh you know," She whispered, calculating his wound and how dangerous that blood flow looked. "Express route." He chuckled, hissing almost immediately, indicating that he had a chest wound as well. "How many?" He closed his eyes.

"How long was I gone again?" Her eyes widened slightly.

"14…" He pointed.

"That number." She had the urge to use the rest of her chakra to heal him because she knew he couldn't fight in the condition he was in, battered and bloody. And she had a sneaking suspicion that there were more coming. It was confirmed by his next words. "Last wave." The forces the mercenaries came with were usually 10-15 men. She could either die now or die trying. Both options meant she failed, and she was so close to home.

She nodded, making a move to climb out. He reached up and latched onto her wrist, but his hand immediately fell. It got her attention. It told her that if he couldn't hold onto her wrist, he most definitely couldn't grasp his katana, or even his kunai.

"Fight alongside me?" He breathed. She heard how much of a struggle it was for him to talk. She bit her lip.

"What type of mess did you drag your ass into this time?" She blurted out, breathing hard as realization dawned on her. He chuckled softly.

"I uh…" He started taking harsh breaths. "Talked about one bastard's mother. That's how I got a hint to the last wave." His chuckle involved into a laugh, despite the pain in his chest. She bit down on her lip harder and shook her head.

"How?" She questioned, taking an inventory on her remaining weapons.

"He said 'My Brother and the rest of them are going to come and finish you off, you piece of shit!' He got kind of angry, giving me this ugly gash on my brow. Then he spit in my eye. Of course he had blood in his mouth. Typical." He managed to squeeze sarcasm out along with his harsh breaths. She frowned at how cheerful he was about this.

"You'll get an infection, dumbass." She whispered as he exhaled shakily.

"Yeah, well, help me up, would you?" He breathed. "I'm no good to the mission like this." He extended his hand, and she noticed the slight twinge of pain it brought him after it reached a certain height. The dried blood on his arm could only be his.

"Right," She started, her lip quivering. "And which do you volunteer to do first? Pass out or die?" His arm dropped.

"Both sound pleasing, but I'd rather fight." He tried to sit up of his own accord, but then he froze in pain. She was at his side, moving him into an upright position against the makeshift wall of their dugout.

She felt the reality of it all. They were in Hoshigakure fighting for their lives, and here Kakashi was, dying right in front of her. She didn't even have a choice whether or not to heal Kakashi first. The mission was priority, and depending on the span of time she'll take to finish off the last wave, Kakashi will either be dead, or comatose from blood loss. It was all on her now, her Partner/Captain was crippled and unable to carry out the rest of the mission. Lucky her.

"Kakashi," She called to him as she stood, putting her weapons back in her pouches and strapped her katana to her back. His breaths were ragged as he tried to remain conscious, and his eyelids fluttered as they were desperately trying to stay open.

"Yes?" She sighed and jumped out of the dugout.

"Please stay alive."

---

Naruto hugged her tightly, soothing her, as her quivering slowed. She shook her head against his chest.

"Please, I'm okay. It…It wasn't a nightmare, Naruto." She whispered, her eyes staring past him at the gray stone wall. "It's this place. It's bringing back too many memories for me." She closed her eyes as her hands fisted in his shirt. "When I came back from Anbu, even then I was dreamless. They taught us that even dreams were dangerous, and anyone could get inside of them. Dreams revealed Intel, and Intel could destroy you and your Village. So they suppressed them. When I was captured, I had only nightmares. Rescued, nightmares. And then I've had this dream…" Naruto looked down at her cerulean hair.

"Sakura, if it wasn't a nightmare…" She pushed herself off of him.

"You don't get it. That dream was one of the memories I held close to my heart. One of the ones Anbu didn't lock away for secretion." Her eyes snapped open. "And for that reason, they scrambled it the most." He searched her eyes.

"What was it?" She sighed heavily, slumping back against the wall of their bunk.

"It was of Kakashi and I. Our last mission at the Base. It's completion finally ranked me as Anbu, and if it was failed…I failed."

-Flashback-

Her face hit the hard dirt ground, and despite the pain she was in, she knew she was under attack. She quickly got up and into a fighting stance.

"I suppose your partner's dead, Kunoichi of the Leaf?" She heard a voice but saw no figures. She felt them, though, and they were all around her. 20 she guessed. If she wanted to win this battle, she would have to draw them all out, and away from Kakashi for that matter. So she jumped, her hands caught on to the nearest branch and swung her to the next one.

'Just a few hundred yards' She thought as the invisible mercenaries materialized some fifteen feet behind her.

"Where are you going Kunoichi? Because you surely won't get far with that wound." The same voice said. She stopped abruptly and jumped to a higher branch. Taking a head count, she found that all twenty of them were on her tail. It wouldn't do to have some leak out in pursuit of her half-dead partner. Besides, she can only use this jutsu once. After that…well, if they're not dead then she was.

She grabbed 4 kunai from her hoister, and as she jumped, threw them in two parallel directions on either side of her. She held the remaining two in her mouth as her fingers formed a seal, preparing for a jutsu. The mercenaries were gaining on her, kunai and shuriken whizzing past her head. They must've known those kunai weren't aimed for them…She hurriedly threw the last two kunai into the trees, and then jumped behind it onto a higher branch to avoid getting caught in her own jutsu. It was a simple barrier. She didn't have much chakra for something extravagant, so she had to move quickly because the slightest provocation could shatter it.

"You think this will hold us?" The mercenary said. He was obviously their leader. She started moving her fingers through 28 hand seals.

"No," She shouted down to them, finishing her hand seals with her arms outstretched. The earth began to rise below them. "But I hope this will." She finished under her breath. They started to throw an array of weapons at the barrier frantically. By the time it shattered, it was too late. As Sakura's hands rose higher, the dirt and grass from all around encased their bodies. They were suffocating, and fast. She could tell by the panicked yells from inside of the Earth coffins. It was no use; they would only die quicker by releasing what little oxygen they had left in their body. As the dirt covered them they floated along with other debris pulled from the ground. It spun slowly around them.

"Earth Prison." She whispered. Her hands turned to fists and the coffins bust, mud sprayed everywhere. All the debris froze then dropped, back to the earth from which it came. The ground in upheaval and trees were thrashed everywhere. The mud was stained with their blood, and it covered her Anbu mask. Those things were almost always small miracles. She hated blood on her face.

She did a quick burying jutsu to cover the blood-stained ground and then hurried back to their hiding place. The new blood seeped out of her almost closed wound from chakra exertion. This only told her she didn't have much time. The familiar arrangements of bushes in sight told her that they were almost done. She pulled off her Anbu mask as she jumped into their dugout.

She froze.

Kakashi's lone eye stared blankly, one arm rested across his thigh, the other on his chest. An unrecognizable sound came from her throat as she stumbled back, her hand over her mouth.

This caused the eye to blink, and then look in her direction. Her hand moved to her forehead.

"I'm sorry, did I scare you? You were gone for more than ten minutes." She slowed her breathing. "I thought to just play dead in case you didn't make it back. In case I lasted long enough for the allotted mission time to be through and for Anbu to come looking for us." She moved to kneel beside him.

"Don't talk like that." She closed her eyes and shook her head softly. It was smart, but he could've told her. Saved her the near heart-attack. "All of the mercenaries are taken care of." His eyes narrowed.

"You shouldn't have used that jutsu. Even in my state I can feel how low your chakra levels have gotten." She sighed and started digging through his vest pockets.

"You know that was my only option." She started opening and closing flaps. "My fists would've surely gotten me killed, you weren't with me to do our combination jutsu, and I already don't have many up my sleeve in the first place."She found what she was looking for and raised it in the dim light. "Here it is. I swear they hide these things so well they make it impossible for even the Captain to find it." He scoffed. "What?"

"That's because it's almost illegal for us to look for it." She sighed and used her chakra to open the scroll.

"Kakashi…" She said exasperatedly. She used her kunai to cut her thumb and began to write on her scroll. Of course, that wasn't one of the best ideas while she was already losing a great deal of blood. And of course, the Anbu Base would require operatives to sign the scroll in blood to ensure it wasn't taken by enemy hands.

Does ink not exist to them?

'I guess not' She answered for herself as she felt the blood drip down her hand.

"Not this again. You'll get us executed talking like that." He rolled his eyes.

"But you know it's true." Her lack of response meant she knew he was right. "Before the ceremony, you'll have to be interrogated for using it, and if that's not enough…well, consequences are a bitch." She contemplated smacking him, but his face was unusually pale right now. She decided against it.

"Can you keep your conspiracy theories at bay, just for once? Just for my last mission?" He chuckled softly.

"You do remember the last guy who used it, right?" She sighed. Apparently he lost his hearing along with his sense and ability to move. But she did remember him; he was taken into custody almost immediately after teleporting. All Anbu issued transportation scrolls lead to either Konoha or Anbu HQ on the base. That all depends on what scrolls your captain receives for that particular mission. Unluckily, the Anbu operative got a scroll for HQ. He apparently used the scroll in fear after his captain was beheaded in front of him. Not completing his mission was reason enough for his dismissal from Anbu. But in their case, she supposed Anbu would have to be lenient. Kakashi was practically dying from blood loss, the deep gash across her stomach didn't make her life look too promising, and their mission was complete. What could they possibly get in trouble for?

Oh right. Using the scroll in the first place.

"You and your stupid hunches." She said with a sigh, slumping back on her knees.

"They're not hunches! I know you've questioned the soundness of this organization at least once, Sakura." She shook her head and raised both of her hands.

"I surrender, Kakashi. Fine. But I'm done playing these right and wrong games. Time's up." She's ready to go back. To go home. She missed Naruto and Ino, even her Shishou. But going back meant encountering Sasuke, and…

Two long years and she's still not fully over it.

"You ready?" She asked him in a small voice, her previous thoughts still looming in her head.

"As ready as I'll ever be. Let's get you that Anbu certification." She smiled as he looked to the sky. "Say, If I am right, and we do get dismissed from Anbu, I get breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a sweet 'I told you so' to top it." She frowned, he was ever the pessimist. But then she lit up, pressing her fingers together.

"And if we don't, you pack my clothes for home, and I get well-earned 'I told you so's' all the way there." She released her chakra. "Kai!" He chuckled softly as they began to feel weightless.

"It's a bet."

---

"What happened in there, Sakura?" At the sight of her widened eyes he rephrased his answer. "I mean back in Anbu." She closed her eyes and smiled. Sweet memories passed behind her eyelids for a change.

"I've…I've never felt so happy about doing something in my life. " She pressed two fingers to her lips. "I would never have dreamed about fighting alongside Kakashi before. Actually fighting with him. Not running for help while you guys fight to protect me. And that…that felt damn good, Naruto." He smiled at her; her usual hardened facial expression changing. "Yeah, me and Sasuke broke up, but that was change for the better. We're closer now than ever before, I'm stronger than I could've imagined, and…" She paused, her eyebrows furrowing in thought. "And Kakashi and I…" Naruto pursed his lips.

"You know, I don't get it." She was snapped out of her thoughts by his spoken ones.

"What?" She asked, urging him to continue as he narrowed his eyes.

"When you two came back, you were inseparable. You trained together, ate together, even got piss drunk together. It was really hard for me to dissect what changed." She looked upward at the memory of it all. "You guys were kissing each other, sleeping with each other—hopefully not in the literal sense—and I was jealous at first. I mean with how your proximity has grown." Her eyebrows furrowed again as she looked down, examining her legs through the slit in her skirt.

"Why?" He hummed.

"Remember back when we were kids and we finally managed to get Sensei's mask off?" She rolled her eyes and snorted at the thought of it.

"Yeah, only for there to be another mask under that one." He nodded.

"But that's what I'm getting at, Sakura. I don't know the extent of your closeness. But it does look like you've managed to get that second mask off; regardless of how many more are under it." Her attention turned to him and she searched his eyes. "And Kakashi-sensei…he's managed to give you something that none of us could ever give you. That I couldn't give you." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. For Naruto to bring how much she's been neglecting the rest of her friends to light, it…it hurt. She knew that since they came back, their closeness was evident to everyone. She knew that she spent more time with Kakashi. Now she's hearing that Naruto's jealous. It shouldn't have affected her like it did, but she knew that Naruto didn't get jealous.

"And what's that?"

"He gave you Anbu." She placed a hand on her forehead and closed her eyes. "He gave you strength that no amount of my words of encouragement could bring to you; he gave you renewed confidence, and even friendship. Those things took me a little over 10 years to accomplish, but you let Kakashi in after two." Her eyes snapped open as she took offense.

"Naruto!" She said taken aback by his comment. "You know—"

"Yes, Sakura, I do know. Sometimes that's just not enough. But I also understand. I know I can't always be your number one, Sakura. And as time passes, the person who does hold that spot in your heart will continue to change. You may not agree, but that person right now is Kakashi." She rubbed a hand over her forehead as the headache that never seemed to be far away returned.

"Naruto, I don't know where you're going with this." He ran a hand through his hair.

"Why are you pushing him away? Why won't you let him help you? Of course you know that Kakashi never goes out of his way to help anyone unless he absolutely has to. He didn't have to sponsor you for Anbu, Sakura. I need you to keep that in mind. He didn't have to let you in." Her eyebrows lowered as frustration boiled up inside of her.

"I'm fine." She bit out. He shook his head.

"Your blood-curdling screams don't say so." He retorted. She slammed her fists down on the wooden part of the bed.

"Why do you care?" She exclaimed. "This is none of your business!" She realized how hurtful her words were after they left her mouth. She could tell by the expression on Naruto's face that left a bad taste in her mouth. It lasted longer than expected. Then it hardened. Her heart clenched.

"I brushed it off before thinking it was something little. I'd leave it to Kakashi. I mean, you seem to like him more nowadays, right?" He said, his voice laced with false cheer and hurt. The clench on her heart made it harder to breath now. "But as time went on, I thought about the times when you told me everything, and I thought you confiding in me would make your burden easier to bear." He chuckled. "This is me. I'm here, we're alone. I'm waiting for you to confide in me, but…" He paused. He stared into her eyes prompting her to speak. To say anything. The pause was eternal and his eyes forced her to look away. "No words come out. Right." She shook her head fervently and reached for his hand. He flinched away.

"No, it's not that, Naruto I—"
"I seem to remember you going to Kakashi's and Sasuke's after the incident at the nightclub. My house is closest to yours, and the hospital, but I guess you must've passed it or something. I mean, you couldn't have seen my bright red house illuminated by the porch lights." She gripped her fists in their bed covers.

"Naruto, I don't want to sit here and argue with you."

"Then don't. Just listen." She heard the restraint in his voice.

"You went back to the man who left you for almost a year because of his student's defection, and the man who left you on a quest for power. But the one who was there through it all, the one who wanted to get stronger for you, the one whose purpose was to uphold his promise for you, gets ignored. Feels like I'm 13 all over again." Her eyes widened. "So I am jealous. I think I have every right to be." He finished, turning away from her on the bed. She didn't expect Naruto to react like this, and that was the problem. She didn't expect anything out of Naruto. She didn't expect him to eventually catch on, either. But the odds were clearly against her. She originally thought she would be roomed with Kakashi, figuring that since they were both Anbu operatives. But then again, the Anbu retrieving squad didn't know why they were in the area in the first place. If they were running away, putting two Anbu operatives together spelled disaster. But rooming Naruto and Sasuke together was even worse. Her next thought was Sasuke. He wouldn't question her screams because he knows all about them. But Naruto…she never told him about how she was suffering. He knew she just came back, and believed she was coping. And like he said. He was the only who was always by her side, yet she never came to him.

Ironic.

She felt a lump form in her throat. Naruto felt disowned. He felt abandoned. He had every right to.

She grabbed for his arm again, only to produce the same results. The chakra resistors were pretty tight on her small wrists, but that didn't stop her from latching onto his arm, this time with more force.

"Sakura—" He started, annoyed.

"No. Now it's time for you to listen." Once she got his attention she sighed, releasing his arm and rubbing a hand over her forehead. "I know you know what it's like, Naruto. You're an insomniac yourself. Before, when war was brewing and the Akatsuki were on your tail, I know of the nightmares you've had of being captured. I shared them with you. It's just…" She looked flustered, unable to place her words. "Sasuke and Kakashi are so broken. They've felt so much pain and have had to endure so much…I thought that if I talked to them, they would understand. They wouldn't say anything because my screams sounded familiar to them—"

"What are you sheltering me for? I'm not a child anymore!" She flinched as he grabbed at his scalp. "The war's been over for about 7 years now. I'm ignorant at times, and I know I'm not the brightest but damn it, I'm not stupid, Sakura! I'm 22, and I know you enough to tell when you're hiding something from me." He rolled his eyes in disbelief. "So you went around all this time thinking I was just blissfully ignorant? Because right now it seems to me that I just wasn't important enough to be a confident. How different can they be from me? Is it because they knew where they came from?" She shook her head, distraught. A lump formed in her throat as the first tear fell.

"Naruto—"

"Stop!" She squeezed her eyes shut.

"No, you stop!" She ran her hands through her hair, her face flustered and pink. She exhaled a shaky breath. "It's so hard. For three months they created my nightmares. When I woke up, I lived them. You all were dead to me. For a time, I thought they actually killed you. I was so drugged and beaten and, and deprived. They created my own hell back there, and for a while, it became normal to live in it. Then my teammates come to rescue me, and I can't sleep, I can't eat, I can't be Sakura because it's just too damn hard. And I'm trying so hard to be the person that you guys remember me to be, but she's lost! She's gone! I'm hurting so much because of the memories etched into my subconscious. The fear they've instilled into my very being prevents me from peacefully sleeping. The one time I do have a dream, I wake up screaming because it's so damn unfamiliar." She closed her eyes, softly rapping her fist to her forehead. "I want to forget so much, Naruto. But I can't. There's only way out, and…"

"Then talk to me! I'm here, Sakura. I'm right here, for you. But I'm the only one being pushed away!" He shouted.

"They know!" She retorted. Tears ready to fall from her eyelids. "They know what it feels like to go off the deep end. When Sasuke's family was murdered he went crazy. Kakashi lost everyone and he went sadistic. They—"

"So what, suddenly their pain can compare to being alone all your life?! I've never had someone there for me! I don't even know what it feels like to have a mother. I've had to struggle for everything I have right now. Even you! I—!" He stopped his rambling as tears fell from his eyes. Hers were closed. "I need you, Sakura. And I need to know you're okay. I just…I just need to know you're okay." He finished softly, the care and concern showed through his face. She slowly reached up and grabbed his hands and squeezed. Her body shook as her feelings escaped her. She cried for the pain of the boy in front of her. She cried for her own ignorance and stupidity, for her neglect.

"Naruto-kun," She said between sobs. "I'm sorry. I'm s-so sorry. Please just…" She brought his hands to her chest. "Please just forgive me…" She laid her nose against his knuckles. "I hate to see you so troubled…you're still that little boy who cries for everyone's pain except for his own. Don't…please don't cry for me, Naruto. I'll break. Your happiness is one of the last shreds of sanity I'm clinging to. I've caused a lot of people a lot of pain, but if I do this to you…" She exhaled a slow shaky breath. "Stay ignorant, if only for me. But please, d-don't take my burden…not again, N-Naruto-kun, I b-beg you…" He felt the tears run down his hands and arms and he pulled her closer. She laid her head on his chest and sobbed quietly as Naruto rested his chin into her hair, kissing her head.

"Thank-you, Sakura-chan."

---

"Ouch," Sakura flinched, looking down at her wrists. She noticed Naruto doing the same. She then tilted her head upwards in understanding.

"What the…" She felt the liquid enter through her veins.

"Don't worry, Naruto. It's a sedative." She finished as the several small needles retracted back into her chakra restraints. Looking back to him, she saw confusion still evident on his face.

"Sedatives—"

"Will not put you to sleep. It'll calm your nerves and lower the sensitivity of your senses, so you're less alert." He frowned.

"Well we're already bound and locked up, what do we need sedatives for?" He said in exasperation. Sakura bit her lip.

"It's interrogation time."

---

Her head lolled back and forth as her blurry vision came into focus. Her arms had long since lost the feeling in them, along with a sick feeling in her stomach for being upside down for so long. The blood had already rushed to her head, and that didn't help her dizzy feeling at all. Despite all of this, her vision continued to focus. She immediately noticed that they took her contacts, upsetting her because they were expensive. Feeling a hand on her ass didn't help her mood, or the fact that she now regretted not putting her heels back on. She was going to kick this Anbu Operative regardless, but a heel would've made her feel better…

"Damn it!" This rookie dumbass should know that sedatives only slow down a Shinobi's senses, not put them to sleep. Apparently, as an escort, he wasn't privy to information about the detainees. He wasn't aware that Sakura was a medic, and her senses slowing down are less likely. Her body was trained to fight mild sedatives and poison on its own. She should kick him again, just because.

"What the—" A hand caught her foot midair.

"Sakura," Kakashi drawled. "Remember that everything we do is being taken into account." He whispered quickly. "Keep your personal feelings to yourself." He let her foot go. She silently wondered how he could perform so alertly when he had sedatives in his body. Then she remembered how long Kakashi was a ninja, and then she remembered the poison, the nutrient deprivation, and the chakra depletion that she just put her body through. No wonder he was better off than she was. Come to think of it, Naruto and Sasuke seemed pretty calm, but they weren't as out of it as she was. She had to be carried over someone's shoulder for goodness sake! She sighed. She was getting rusty.

They led them to a room and sat them in the suspicious looking chairs against the wall after removing their chakra restraints. More chains latched onto her wrists and she threw her head back as bigger needles inserted themselves into her skin.

"Ugh, they have to find a better way to do this." She was beginning to regain her senses.

"Sakura," Kakashi asked from the seat beside her. She turned towards him with her head still laid against her seat. "You know that Rookie—"

"Was an idiot, I know. I'm tired of people touching my ass." He shrugged.

"I was just going to say he had the right idea." He finished with a chuckle. The laugh died in his throat and his smile faded when he saw her impassive expression unmoving. He sighed. "It was a—"

"Look, Kakashi. I know you're trying to lighten the mood, but I didn't exactly have the best morning—"

"It's still night."

"—And I'm not really feeling your crude jokes right now." Crude?

"What's wrong?" There was never anything good that came out of that question because of its history, so he couldn't help the nervous feeling in his gut after the words came out of his mouth.

"I don't know if any of this occurred to you yet, or any of you for that matter, but this is our careers on the line. If this doesn't go right, it's on us, Kakashi. You know that right? We fucked up that first mission. And it's because of us that this butterfly effect took place. Kaka-sensei, we put Sasuke and Naruto's Shinobi career in jeopardy. I can't help but think what would happen if this goes wrong. My—" He placed a hand on her shoulder. Boy, could she ramble.

"Calm down," That woman had the worst nerves. "Nothing will go wrong, Sakura." She shook her head.

"I can't stomach what would happen to me if I lost this…" He closed his eyes.

"We've all put our heart and soul into our lifestyle, and if that's taken away, then…" He ran a hand through his hair. He shouldn't have asked. "We're all Shinobi. We spend lifetimes, generations—"

"But that's just it!" She shouted at him, sitting up promptly as her hands gripped the arms of her seat. "That's just it, Kakashi! Lifetimes, generations, I have nothing." She whispered harshly as she gestured to herself with her hands. "I don't have a kekkai-genkai like Sasuke, my father wasn't the Yondaime Hokage like Naruto, and I damn sure haven't copied one-thousand jutsu!" She sat back, her hands outstretched and her face flustered as her nerves finally caught up to her. Her stomach had a swimming feeling, and her headache was back. "Don't you see? I'm of no consequence to those old fart bags!" He snorted at her choice of words. "They can't just cut off a kekkai-genkai, and everyone will be in protest if Naruto is dishonorably discharged for a petty reason like this. Just your surname brings in the top-ranking mission income in the country, right next to Anbu, not to mention you're a part of that too! But me, Kakashi, I'm unnecessary baggage. Sure, I'm a great medic. So is Shizune. And Hinata, and Ino, and most of the medics working at the hospital! I don't have lineage, I don't have special chakra, and I don't have a kekkai-genkai. All I have is the word 'apprentice' attached to Shishou's name, and what's her word against the elders? The Daimyo?" Sakura sighed heavily, rubbing her hands down her face in tiredness. "I can't…this is just all I have to my name. I want to prove my mother wrong. I want to make my mother proud. I don't want to lose…all I have." She finished in a shaky breath.

"Uchiha Sasuke and Haruno Sakura." A loud and deep voice boomed over the speaker in their room as the door across the room unlocked. She slowly raised herself and looked back down to Kakashi.

"We all want this to go the same." She started, looking down at her feet as Sasuke walked out in front of her. "We all want to get out of this with our heads intact. This way of life means so much to us—to me…Kakashi, I know you come off as nonchalant and uncaring most of the time, but please. If you do this interrogation for anyone, do it for me." And with that, she walked out of the door, and the lock clicked into place behind her.

He didn't know what this feeling was. Sympathy? Fear? Whatever it was, he now felt a compelling need to face the interrogation head on. If only for the fate of Sakura afterwards.

---

"Please?"

"No."

"Pretty please?"

"Sakura, I said no."

"We've been sitting her for so long; I just want you to activate it for a second—one second, just to see what's happening." He let out an exasperated sigh, resting one hand on his knee; the other ran through his hair.

"That's what got us here in the first place. We can't follow rules, remember?" He scoffed. "God, Sakura, you're the most stubborn woman I know. Can't you just be obedient for once and just wait?" Sasuke finished with a roll of his eyes as she pouted.

"I'm not the one who broke the rules in the first place…" She muttered under her breath. A light flickered on in a room about ten feet away from them, followed by a hanging light over their heads.

"Haruno Sakura and Uchiha Sasuke?" A voice was heard from the speakers around the room. Sakura nodded.

"Yes." He laid the manila folder in his hands down on the desk in front of him.

"How was your day? I know this is short notice, so you must be tired." She rolled her eyes in agreement.

"We were close to our mission destination and then this interrogation pops up. I just got over food poisoning and I'm still trying to regain my chakra, not to mention you Anbu bastards putting sedatives in me and then trying to flush them out with whatever agent you're using, and I know it's not safe. The poison in my system could've mixed with the sedative, and I—ouch." Sasuke nudged her painfully in the ribs.

"Stop discussing your past expenditures." He whispered harshly. "Our day was fine." The Interrogator looked amused.

"Ah, Uchiha-san, it seems to me you're not interested in small talk. Fine. Let's cut right to the chase. Miss Haruno, 3 months and 2-and-a half weeks ago, you were captured, tortured, and demeaned as an Anbu Black Ops of the Village Hidden in the Leaves. Two weeks ago, your teammates slaughtered almost up to 50 men, illegally, just to save you. Although, you did choose to be captured. Your captain was dying, so you used the transportation scroll, that you weren't supposed to have, and you saved him because you knew that he would be killed if he was captured by them. With all of this that has occurred, I've wondered why the three of your teammates haven't been detained for unlawful murder, and if it wasn't for them unearthing Grass's war plans, that would've been number one on the council's list." Sakura inhaled sharply then turned to look at Sasuke. His face was impassive as ever, but his mouth was set in a grim line. "Now, what I want to know is, where do they draw the line at the bond you share? Certainly not at their careers, as you can see they're being sacrificed as we speak." He gestured around him. She bit down on her lip.

"For the longest time we've only had each other. Disrupting that continuity must've triggered something. I don't know; I can't justify that myself. I do know that saving Kakashi was doing something I had to do. If I was put in the situation to do it again, I'd do it a thousand times over." She folded her fingers, looking down into her lap.

"Hm. Now, about your bonds. You've told me you're bond is only as strong as it is because of your history. In the past, I know that you dated Uchiha-san. But your relationship took a turn in the other direction when he slept with your comrade." She flinched. "But yet, as a result, your bond got stronger. Apparently so, because the Uchiha killed a large number of men that night." The interrogator said with a chuckle. "The logical assumption would only be that the strong feeling of a need to protect still remains. So, either the Uchiha still loves you, or you're sleeping with each other again." Sasuke's eyes widened as Sakura's palms flew up.

"Wait, I—"

"I digress. So, back to this bond." Sakura frowned and slumped in her seat as their Interrogator glanced at the folder again. "When the both of you were younger, you were on the same genin team. The Uchiha often belittled and disrespected you, and a lot of times rejected you. Yet when he defected, it was almost like your sole purpose was to bring him back. As if the bond you shared was evidently strong, as if the Uchiha showed any indication that your words and love alone could bring him back from his quest of power. You believed in this for a long time, and during this, Sasuke grew farther and farther apart from you. But your faith was unmoving. And despite the odds, you kept this faith. But then you brought him back…Tell me. When you finally had what you wanted so desperately at your fingertips, you rejected him. For a long time you pushed him away. Of course you didn't feel so strongly about him then. What changed? What changed from the time that you brought their unconscious bodies' home, to the time that you met him after he released from the hospital, two weeks later?" Her hands fisted in her skirt as she bore holes in the floor. Sasuke turned to her, awaiting her response.

"What do you mean what changed?" She whispered harshly. "I…I hated him. I was so angry and frustrated, and just so confused. He was finally home, but I didn't know how to feel. I hated him, and it hurt so badly."

6 years ago

"Sakura."

"Hm?"

"Sakura, wake up." She groaned and rolled over as he continued to shake her shoulder.

"Naruto…" She whispered, pulling the sheet over her head. "Just one more day—" He pulled the blankets from off of her face and she shielded her eyes.

"Haruno, it's been a week. They're going to keep looking for you, and I'm going to keep getting in trouble for hiding you." He sighed, rubbing his temples. "I'm tired of getting put on probation for you, Sakura." She frowned and sat up slowly. Rubbing her hands through her stringy hair, her eyes blinked open.

She was getting worse and worse each day.

Dirty was an understatement. He can't remember the last time she'd bathed. The salt trails cutting through the dirt on her face was evident. She barely changes, and she barely goes out. A sigh escaped her lips as she looked away.

"Naruto, I just…I just don't want to go back…I can't." He moved to sit beside her.

"It's almost been two months. You first told me that you needed time. His being back was a constant reminder of the pain and heartbreak it took to get him here. And being roomed with him didn't give you space to think, either. I accepted it; you were the one who was in love with him, and as a result, suffered the most. But now look. Kakashi-sensei's moved on, I've moved on, even the Village—" She slammed her fists down against the couch.

"You have to look at it through my perspective, Naruto! I'm not Sasuke's best friend or eternal rival. Lying beside him in a hospital room won't release my pent up hate for him!" She stopped herself and sighed, slowing herself down. "At first I thought, 'maybe if I just see him, I could fall into his arms and everything would be better. It would all be okay'. But then things were different. He woke up and…I tried to hurt him." A tear fell from her eyes. "I don't work like you do. And now to be his personal nurse? Naruto, everyday he wakes up and just looks at me. Every day I feel the urge to, to instead of check his vital signs, put my hand on his chest and squeeze. Squeeze until the blood starts to pour from his nose." Naruto's eyes widened, then he looked away.

"I know, Sakura. I know how much you're hurting—"

"You don't. You d—"

"Then give him a chance!"

"Stop cutting me off!" He grabbed at his scalp and let out a frustrated sigh.

"Sakura, stop deviating! Just—" He rubbed his hand down his face. Arguing with Sakura was a lost cause. "Just give him a chance." She scoffed.

"Give him a chance? You mean give him another chance. It gets unbearable to give and give and get nothing in return. Then when that person is finally ready to receive, to give back, you have nothing left to give." Tears were flowing freely. "I loved Sasuke more than anything in the world. I lived only to bring him back to Konoha. And despite how much we were shut down and beaten, I—we continued to give him one chance after another. We gave and gave until there was nothing left in our hearts but love for him. But now, even that's gone." Naruto looked away. Sasuke took Sakura's all when he left. Now that he's back, he's trying to return the shattered, scattered pieces that remain, but it just won't fit together. She lay back down and turned away from him. She's been crying like this a lot and she hated it. Especially when he watched her. Especially when he gave her that look.

She pulled the covers up to her shoulders.

"I'm tired of feeling like this, Naruto. I'm tired of feeling so weak around him. Every time I see him, I just want to break down and cry. And I hate feeling like this so much, yet I just can't let go." She whispered.

"Then…then just look at it through his perspective, Sakura-chan." She looked at him through the corners of her eyes. He was smiling now, that cheeky grin he always gave her. Something so familiar didn't even have the same effect on her now. "Sasuke isn't deaf nor stupid, just blind. Every time we came to rescue him, we gave him the same plea, the same promise. And he heard us, I know he did. Every time we told him that there was a place for him here, at home and in our hearts, if he ever decided to return. Now, he's here. I cried with him while in our hospital beds, and he sought out Kakashi and fought him the second he awoke. Now he's waiting on you. You loved him with all of your heart, and now that he's back, it seems all of that has disappeared." He paused, anger in his voice. "I don't think you understand, Sakura. Sasuke loves you!" Her eyes widened. "He's been waiting on you and only you. You were the one thing he came back for when he completed his journey. Not my vow, not Sensei's pledge to make things right. You. You and your unacknowledged love. Someone he thought would always be there for him. Well guess what? You're not. Because you're afraid. You're afraid that if you let him back in, then he'll leave you again. You're heart will be in a worse mess than it was when he left you the first time. Stop being so fucking scared and be the Sakura I know you to be! The one time I need you to act on your impulses, you don't!"

"Because I can't!" She shot up. Her eyes were puffy. Strands of hair clung to her wait face. "I can't." She pleaded. His face scrunched up.

"Why the hell not then?" She turned away from him. "Right." He got up from beside her and went to grab his keys from the kitchen counter. "Go home, Sakura. Go home and look Sasuke in the face. Tell him how much you really hate him. Maybe then you can love him." With that, he slammed the door behind him.

---

She sighed, trying desperately to grab the herbs from the top shelf. Just leaving them would be out of the question. It wasn't Sasuke's fault she hasn't grown since she was 16. Her final resolve was climbing the shelves.

"I've got it, Sakura-nee-chan." She stopped, one foot on the bottom shelf, her other hand clasping the farthest one she could reach, as someone much taller than her came and grabbed it with ease. She blushed and scratched the back of her neck.

"Ah, thanks Konohamaru." He gave her a cheeky smile in return. Then, a confused look appeared on his face.

"Did I get the right one?" She shrugged her shoulders as he showed her the container.

"I actually need one of everything." He nodded, grabbing the rest of them and placing them in her basket. Then he moved over and grabbed some for himself. "So what are you doing back here? I didn't know you were a medic." She's been out of touch with him since after rebuilding the Village, and she couldn't blame herself. They've had problems of their own to deal with.

"N-n-no, no," He blushed while rubbing his shoulder. "I'm just picking these up for Moegi. She gave me her ID since she's sick at home—" She raised an eyebrow. "Her parents are away on a mission so I'm taking care of her…" She raised the other eyebrow. He shook his hands. "No, no, no, it's not like that!" She patted his shoulder and walked past him.

"You're 15, remember that." She said with a laugh. He gently grabbed her wrist after her.

"Nee-chan." She stopped, her head turning slightly.

"Yes, Konohamaru?" He took a deep breath and let her go.

"Are you doing okay? I mean, baa-chan's been telling me about Naruto-nii-chan's countless probations for withholding the right of medical assistance. At first I didn't know what it was about because I was out on a mission with Udon and Moegi. On top of that, I didn't think nii-chan would prevent anyone from getting medical help. But I knew you guys left on a mission before I left. I just thought it was another false lead. I never even considered the thought of you guys actually bringing Sasuke-kun home." She visibly flinched. Konohamaru pursed his lips. "We returned some time after you got back and I couldn't see Sasuke-kun or Naruto-nii-chan because they were both in ICU." He looked down. "Then a few weeks later, I couldn't go on a 2-man with Naruto-nii-chan because he was on probation, so—" She smiled sadly.

"You're rambling again. I thought you grew out of that." He blushed, catching his breath.

"Well I found out that you were the personal nurse assigned to Sasuke-kun. But whenever I went to his apartment, you were never there. I remember asking around, and Hyuuga-san told me you were in the apothecary section two days ago restocking on herbs." She looked away from him. "I don't know the extent of anything, nee-chan. Your relationships, your pain, your fears…I just know that you made a promise to Sasuke. You of all people closest to nii-chan should know the most about the importance of keeping vows and not going back on your word. I'm not in any position to tell you this, nee-chan, but Sasuke-kun's waiting on you. If you haven't noticed, he's hurting too. His reacceptance from you is more important than anyone else's because he knew your love for him was the strongest. If that's not there anymore, then…"

"I hope Moegi thinks your rambling is cute." He frowned, his face flustered.

"Just—Just think about what I said, nee-chan!" She raised her hand in a goodbye, taking her leave. She moved throughout the apothecary section going back towards the grocery store. She's almost positive that there should be an abundance of food in the apartment, but she decided on getting something to make tonight. He should be waking up soon anyway.

She grabbed a stray cart and placed her basket inside of it. She moved down the shelves and starting picking out canned foods. She spotted the sticky rice and sighed heavily. She could only assume it was his favorite food; it was the only thing he ate when she made a Miso soup dish. Well, when she was at home to make a Miso soup dish.

Another sigh.

She placed three of them in her cart. Why was everyone on her case in the first place?

Oh yeah. She publicly almost killed Sasuke. Her deranged actions must've circled the village at least twice by now. She scoffed in memory. That was an understatement because they were still talking about it. It couldn't be her fault. Sakura shut herself away after their mission was completed, after the three of her teammates were taken into ICU for their critical injuries. She didn't come out, not even to visit Naruto and Kakashi-sensei. Ino told her teammates to meet her at town square, and she dragged the unknowing Sakura out of the house.

"Pig, I just want to go home." Sakura said tiredly as she was dragged by the wrist throughout the Village. Ino rolled her eyes.

"When was the last time you left Naruto's house?" She asked, narrowing her eyes.

"Um…I didn't…"

"Exactly. That was three weeks ago. Just because you weren't admitted into the Hospital too doesn't mean your injuries weren't extensive." It was Sakura's turn to roll her eyes.

"I'm an elite medic. I think I know how to heal critical injuries."

"You're right. But after a mission like that? When you had to find a way to get all three of your comatose teammates home? When you didn't sleep for four days? Your medical handiwork might've been shady then." Sakura sighed. She knew when to let Ino win. In some cases, not pushing it because she knew she was right.

"Okay, Ino. Fresh air, I get it. But you could've taken me to the training grounds, or even the civilian park. But the Village square? I hate the looks on their faces. Pity…sympathy…it sickens me." Sakura slowed. "They don't know our story or our fight. They don't know the costs of what it took to finally find him, and, and…and bring him home." Ino stopped pulling her and looked back. "Pig, he's finally here. It's been seven years and he's finally, finally here. I mean, I've pictured this differently so many times. I either fell into his arms, or he found me and kissed me, it's been one fantasy after another. But now this dream is a reality and all of that has faded away. Now I'm just left with questions. How will he really feel?" She used her free hand to smooth her hair back. "I mean, I should've gone to visit them a week and-a-half ago. They were stabilized almost immediately and I am comfortable with Naruto and Kakashi-sensei, so I could've at least seem them, if anything. They've been out of the Hospital for two days now and I still don't know where they are. I've been staying at Naruto's house so he's not there, and I doubt Kakashi-sensei would willingly open up his apartment for the two of them, so… Just the thought of all my teammates together again, walking around freely in the same Village I'm in…It takes me back so far. I'm excited to see them, but at the same time…it scares the hell out of me." She released all the pent up energy she was holding as she spoke her feelings. Ino guided them to a nearby bench and directed her to sit. She followed suit.

"Sakura…I can't begin to dissect how you're feeling right now. And I can't even say I know how it feels because…Sasuke and I were never close. I never held a bond with him. I can't even say I knew him. The only thing we have in common is the fact that we were Shinobi of the Hidden Leaf, and that's all." Sakura turned away. She couldn't really say she held a bond with Sasuke, either. That's why she was so ambivalent about his return…that's why she was hurting so much. What exactly could she say to the boy she barely knew? "When you guys left on your last mission, I cried. This wasn't just another false lead. It was valid information. Sasuke was weak from his last battle and licking his wounds in Snow. He was injured, but I didn't know what to expect. He'd just killed Madara, and I know Naruto has gotten stronger as well, but I couldn't help but fear for his well-being. The last time Naruto thought he was strong enough to fight Sasuke…I just didn't want that scare again." Ino rubbed the back of her neck. "I was…the first medic to know, after Shishou; about the message you sent telling medic teams to be ready upon your arrival. Your usually neat handwriting was ineligible enough to rival Kakashi's, and you sealed it with blood. Upon further inspection, it was unidentifiable, meaning it could only be Sasuke's. To not use chakra when sealing meant you were weak and had to use blood. And to use someone else's blood meant they had some to spare. We were in a frenzy for those four days.

"I was a part of the medic team that waited at the gates. We had several news teams and some people from the History department to record it and put it in the archives camped out there too. If Sasuke was alive, then he would be the first traitor allowed legally back into the Leaf Village. And if Naruto was alive as well, then…their fight would go down in history. They just wanted to have the first coverage of the infamous team once they stepped back into Village territory. That was probably the liveliest Konoha has ever been once the sensory team caught sight of you four only a few miles away. The whole Village was awake at two am. The headlines that morning was 'Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara rematch; The nine-tailed-fox and the Uchiha's sole survivor'" Ino waved down a vendor and bought them each a dango stick. Sakura quickly took a bite out of hers. Food was scarce at Naruto's house, seeing that Konohamaru had a key.

"Cute. It fits, even though Naruto isn't related to the Senju Clan." Ino hummed.

"Technically, though, yes. Naruto's grandmother from the Uzumaki Clan married the Shodai Hokage." Sakura rolled her eyes. Ino stared at her for a bit as she finished off her dango stick mechanically. "Sakura?"

"Hm?" She answered, tossing her stick in a nearby trash can.

"I just want you to be happy. This is what you've wanted for so long, and now that you have it, you don't know how to handle it. Sasuke's awake; he's here, prowling the Village. Your whole team has been through hell, and now you're all finally here together. Please don't take this for granted." Sakura turned away in thought, remembering that Ino's team lost their sensei and Hinata's team had to be disbanded from their sensei.

"I know." She finally answered. Getting up, Sakura dusted herself off and held out a hand for Ino, giving her a small smile. Her first in a long time. "I know. I have to go see them, but that'll be a pain, not knowing where they are and all."

"Good thing we're right here, huh Haruno." She froze. She couldn't mistake that voice for anyone else's. She could be hearing things, but the body heat behind her proved her otherwise. "Sorry we've been missing for the past couple of days, but you kind of went MIA after we were admitted into the Hospital. When we got out, we were shrouded with paperwork, the mission report, and then of course mission detailing—"

"Oh, Naruto." She turned and fell into his arms, her hands fisted in the back of his mesh shirt. Her sobs were loud, ugly things that racked her body as she shook against his. The only thing keeping her up were the strong hands wrapped across her waist. Her face was immediately wet, and there was so much snot running out of her nose. It wasn't long before she could feel the tears on his shirt. She was sure he wouldn't care right then.

Reality wasn't an option for her those four days traveling from snow back to Konoha. She couldn't afford to think of it. Her chakra was drained, it was cold, and she had many open wounds. If she even thought for a moment that their suffering was finally over, her fight would've been gone, and she would've passed out alongside her three teammates. She was so afraid to even move those two weeks she spent in Naruto's house. She thought that even the slightest of movements would shatter the dream she was in, and bring her back. Sasuke wasn't really in the Hospital; he wasn't safe within Village walls. But here, clinging to Naruto for dear life, she felt it. The usual tenseness in his body was gone. He was relaxed. She tasted their triumphs through her salty tears. No more heartache, no more searching. Their team was finally back together. Naruto, Sasuke—

She quickly pulled back from Naruto.

Uchiha Sasuke. The teammate that's evaded their grasp for so long was right in front of her, and it was unreal. He looked so different, but then the same. His features more defined and his shoulders strong and broad. He even got taller. Her eyes were wide as she continued to examine him; her hands clung tightly to her medic skirt.

"Sasuke…" She whispered under her breath. He seemed to have heard it because he was staring right back at her. He moved forward to stand beside Naruto, his face as impassive as ever. She took a small step forward and slowly reached out her hand. Just to touch him. Just to make sure that he was real. Her middle finger brushed against his forearm first, and traced his arm hair down to his arm. They stared at it. Her arm fell in confirmation. She looked back up at him as tears gathered in her eyes.

"Sasuke, it's you." She took another step forward, her arms prepared to embrace him, but then she saw it. It was very unnoticeable, and it was very brief. It was so familiar to her, this facial expression he just showed, yet it caused something to bubble deep within her. A stinging feeling in her chest. 'Why?' She thought as her heart clenched. Why did that one thing bring back so many memories, so much pain to her heart? The warmness faded as red flashed behind her eyelids.

Did he think that everything was fine now? That she and Naruto could just forget the scars that adorned their hearts?

Did he think that Sakura would just drop everything and continue to love him as she did six years ago? The rage continued to build inside of her as the arm that was previously outstretched to embrace him, lunged at his neck.

"You bastard!" They fell to the ground, Sasuke too surprised to do anything, as Sakura's nails clawed at his throat. Fresh skin caked under her fingers as blood ran down his neck.

"Sakura!" Ino yelled, stunned just like the rest of the bystanders. Her tears mixed with the blood on her hands and his face. When there was only raw skin left, she grabbed his jaw, covering his chin with his blood.

"It's not okay!" She punched him. "It'll never be okay!" Another punch. "You hurt us…so badly." She continued to punch him until she heard his ragged breaths. She paused, her legs tightly wound around his waist, pinning him securely to the ground. Her grip was still strong on his jaw, and she laid her face on his. "This pain you're feeling…It can't even begin to compare to what we felt. What I feel." Her tears dropped from the corners of her eyes onto his cheek."I'm hurting…you can't just come home and expect everything to be the same as it was when you left. I'm…I'm not the same girl you knocked out. The same girl you had begging for you to stay. These two weeks…" She let out a slow shaky breath. "I formulated my reaction to your living, breathing body in Konoha. And each time I pictured something so wrong, given the situation we're in now. Actually seeing your face, having you here in front of me, under me…" She looked down at his face flushed red. "It just made me realize how much I really hate you." She saw his eyes widen for a second, then slightly narrow. "No on e can change in a week. No one. You can't suddenly go from trying to kill Naruto to finally wanting to come back home." She shot up, forcefully snatching his jaw from side to side. Her anger flared again. "You can't just change like that! What made you want to come home? Huh? Was it because all of your worthless allies were already dead? Did you think you could still fall back on the ones you abandoned here?!" As she shouted, she started to punch him. "What made you want to come back—!"

"You!" He yelled back at her. Her fist froze halfway to his face, her expression frozen as well. Her eyes wide, he spit out blood on the dirt beside him. And then, her demeanor changed. It got darker, and her fist became inflamed with chakra.

"Bullshit!" She yelled, choking back tears while her anger showed through her voice. "You fucking liar! You never thought of me!" Her fist laced with chakra came down on his face, and a hush fell over the crowd as they heard the telltale crunch of bones crushing.

"Sakura! That's enough!" She fought the strong hands pulling her from her waist and she was scooped into someone's arms. She latched onto Sasuke's neck.

"All of my pleas and cried fell on deaf ears! You never heard me! It was never for me. You don't know how I'm hurting, you bastard!" She continued to choke him and kick at her captor, Kakashi. Naruto stood shell-shocked, as he did when she first lunged at Sasuke's neck. He was unable to do anything. Ino stood crying, and the crowd gave her looks of contempt. Why did she try to kill someone who saved them? Someone on crutches, none the less. The Village that once held the Uchiha in scorn was now kissing his feet because of him slaying Kabuto and stopping the reanimation jutsu. She began to struggle against Kakashi as he finally managed to pull her off of his neck. "If you truly cared for any of us, you would've felt Naruto's pain for you! You would've heard his cries for you and recognized his desperate efforts to keep your sorry ass from getting branded as a criminal on an international level! You would've saw how he kept everyone from killing you! Even myself." She slowly went slack; her anger released itself and her emotions running wild. "I hate you, Uchiha Sasuke. From my mind, to my heart, to the very core of my being. Naruto and Kakashi-sensei and the others may have you fooled, but things will never be the same." Her fight left her as her blood caked hands clung to Kakashi's vest, and her tears didn't cease to come. "Never…" Were the last words she spoke before passing out.

She sighed, shaking the vivid memory from her mind. Placing the groceries on the counter, she waited for her food to be priced. Did he think that if he came back, that she would just love him unconditionally, as she did before? That his years of treachery and betrayal meant nothing now that he was back? They couldn't blame her for not wanting to treat him. She was the only one not fooled by his "new person" façade. She pulled out her wallet and handed the cashier some money. Grabbing her large bags of groceries, she headed out of the door.

"Have a nice day, Haruno-san." She refused to answer. Her days were always shitty, and they weren't looking like a turn of events would make them any better any time soon.

Not only did they have to stay together, she has to care for him. She faced the urge not to harm him each and every day. That's why she leaves. She'd rather drug him so he's out for days, than yell and scream at him, and eventually, hurt him. Apparently, this isn't the proper etiquette for a personal nurse, so she's had Naruto hide her. When this became frequent, her Shishou brought sensory ninja to find her, and when they did, Naruto was put on probation, and her pay was docked. She could care less about the money. One day, her Shishou would realize that Sakura just couldn't do the job. Despite Sasuke being revered as the new hero to some, there are still many people who don't like the fact that there was a traitor in their midst. It was too risky to place him in a public Hospital. He sustained severe heart and leg injuries, so they couldn't just prescribe bed rest. There was only three medical ninja capable of caring for heart injuries of his caliber. One of a which, a male medical ninja who refused to treat him off the bat. Despite the punishment he was threatened with, he held his ground. The second person being the Hokage herself who just couldn't find the time out of her busy schedule to give him the constant care he required. The last person would be Sakura. If she had known earlier of his injuries, she would've refused first so that the male medic-nin could be the one they fell back on, not Sakura. Still, she pushed her luck and refused, but working so closely to the Hokage, her medical order was official, and wasn't one to play with.

They couldn't do that, could they? She would have to check the rule book.

Yet Naruto's probation got longer and longer each time, and sooner or later, Sasuke would grow accustomed to the drug, and then become immune. She sighed heavily. Naruto's words this morning rang true. First off, probation meant no pay, and Naruto still had bills. Given his high income and the reason his income had been momentarily suspended, financial aid wouldn't be available to him. They'll take his father's house, and it would be Sakura's fault. Another sigh. She had to go home now and care for Sasuke. The drug wears off today anyway. She passed by the adult bookstore and thought of Kakashi. This caused her to stop in front of it, and she peered into the window. She wasn't surprised to see him inside, flirting his way from paying full price for a special edition book. He caught her gaze and smiled, holding up a finger. She backed away from the window just as the female clerk handed him something that wasn't a receipt.

"Hello, Sakura-chan." She began to walk as he fell into step beside her. He noticed her slower gait and reached out a hand, nodding to her groceries. She handed them over without an argument.

"Thanks, Sensei. I've been a little out of it today." She sighed.

"Naruto got put on probation again?" She shook her head. Kakashi was fully aware of the situation. He could at least understand her feelings about Sasuke. She held the most feelings for him; therefore, it was hard for her to just accept him back into her life because of all the pain he's put her through. And sure, she thinks running away from the problem will help, everyone does, but it never solves anything. She usually stays at Naruto's house for at least another day until Tsunade-sama's ninja pay her a visit, and they were headed in the opposite direction. Judging from her defeated demeanor, Naruto must've told her to go home. With the emotional state that Sakura's in, placing Sasuke in her care may not have been the best idea on the Hokage's part. Kakashi was never one to take sides, but she's given him so many drugs since she's been assigned as his personal nurse, so he could only assume what that's doing to his body. On top of that, he's not being taken care of every day like he should be, and he faces the prospect of death each time Sakura is home, just depending on how hateful she's feeling that day.

Yeah, he definitely feels for the Uchiha.

"I just…don't know." He was brought out of his thought and turned to her. "I mean, I know I'm not like you guys…not at all. You were back on good terms just by simply duking it out in a fist fight. Shishou purposely ordered their beds to be in the same Hospital room, knowing how they work, and knowing that they'll have a long bitch fest when they wake and then go back to being best friends, as if he never left for six years." She placed a finger on her chin. "I'm not his teacher, so I can't just fight with him to make everything better. I'm not his best friend, so bawling like a baby with him won't release my pent up hate. Looking back on it, the only relationship I had with Sasuke was being his teammate. I wasn't his friend because he showed time and time over he only care for me in a battlefield setting. He continuosly rejected me and broke my heart even before his betrayal, so why did I let my mind think that I could accept him back so calmly? That his being home would restore a relationship that we never had?" She closed her eyes.

"I continuosly treated you as an outcast on my genin team, which made Sasuke think he was right to portray you as the weakling who's slack always had to be picked up. So to him, because of what his brother instilled in him, your weakness was a burden, and to become stronger, he had to abandon everything weak about him. I don't think it was personal, but that's one of the main reasons he ended up rejecting you all of the time. He only thought of you as a comrade. He may have been a bastard, but he had enough chivalry to save you in your time of need." She knew all of this in her heart, but brought to words hurt even more. One of the reasons why her impulses won't let her forget about her past rejection. She's held onto her hate, and her heart wants to make him feel what she's felt so much of for so long. Her mind knew it was wrong, but when her feeling were involved she could never be rational.

"I thought I was ready for him to return, but I guess not. Just holding onto this much hate is eating away at me. But I can't just forgive him." She fished for her keys as they approached the apartment complex. "So what are you going home to do, Sakura? Hurting him brings release, but you've reversed the healing on his lower body by jumping on him the other day. As a medic you know it's unfair to injure the injured, but you can't keep your feelings at bay." As they reached the top of the stairs and got to her door, he handed her the groceries and started back down. Then he paused.

"If you don't think of anything else, think of the promises that we made him. He's kept them in the back of his mind just in case, and now that he's back, you're breaking them. Just…" He paused again, reaching the bottom step. "Just think of all the reasons why he would come back, and think of why the reasons he would come back for you are the strongest." He gave her a wave and continued onto the street. She put her key into the door and unlocked it, using her shoulder to push it open. She kicked off her sandals and placed the groceries and her keys on the kitchen counter.

She left him for a few days, so she supposed the right thing to do right now would be to check on him. But all she wanted to do was sleep. She walked back to the living room and slumped down into the couch. She should start studying for her jonin exams before he woke. She heard it's going to be especially hard this year, on top of that, some jonin have to retest because of their lack of high-ranking missions. If they fail, they get knocked back down to Tokubetsu jonin. She wasn't scared. Only she knew Kakashi had to retest too. He's only been on a few S-rank missions in the past few years, and the missions he took his team on to rescue Sasuke only went as high as B. She wouldn't think they would pair up a Chunin with a Jonin, but with their surnames being so damn close…the possibilities of fighting someone other than him was slim. Her sensei may have said they were equals, but it was a damn lie back then and it still rang true. She'd rather—

She heard a small repetitive noise. Someone wouldn't break into her house, right? She knew that many people didn't agree with Sasuke being in the Village, and while she was a part of that number, she couldn't let him die in her care. She rapped softly on the wall above her head. When the flap creaked open she pulled out her kunai, just as the figure appeared before her. She froze in place.

"I didn't know you hid your weapons." There was a strict, unspoken rule about small talk in the house. There were only medical questions, or you had to be making dying sounds. Otherwise, everyone is silent. She ignored his remark.

"What're you doing awake?" She asked. She drugged him, she was sure, and she put the right dosage. He leaned his crutches against the wall and lowered himself to the stool.

"You've given it to me so often and administered so much of it that my body has gotten used to it." She sighed. She knew this would happen. It was Sasuke, after all.

"Are you hungry?" She asked, raising herself to go to the kitchen. She started unpacking groceries. She heard the noise of his crutches as he followed her.

"Yeah, I haven't eaten in a while. She bit her lip. He only recently regained a little movement in his lower body, so if his crutches were across the room and he was awake, he wouldn't have been able to get up and fix himself something to eat. The guilt trip worked. She washed her hands.

"What do you want? I bought rice, so—"

"Rice balls, please." She paused. She's never heard a 'please' or any pleasantry come from his mouth, so she was taken aback. She fished through her fridge.

"Anything else? You haven't eaten, so you must be hungry." He shook his head.

"No, I'm fine." She shrugged her shoulders and went about preparations. "Where do you go? When you're not here, I mean." She bent over to look in her lower cabinets for a pot.

"I have to run errands. The Village is still a mess." She found it and filled it with water.

"Hm." She paused and turned her head slightly as she turned the stove on and placed the pot atop it.

"You don't believe me? Well who are you to question my whereabouts, anyway." She retorted. This was why there was no small talk in her house. It led to her coldness.

"I just don't think it takes a week to run errands." She gripped the edges of the pot.

"I'm here now, aren't I? I'm here." She breathed in and exhaled slowly. Things like this shouldn't get her as riled up as they do, but every conversation she had with him made her heart feel like it was breaking a little more each time.

"Yeah, you're right." He smiled, as if withholding laughter. "I just don't want to go into cardiac arrest while you're out—"

"Shut-up!" His injuries didn't seem to hinder his reflexes. He hopped out of the way to dodge the oncoming pot thrown at him, but he was soaked in near-hot water. It crashed into the wall and feel onto the floor. "Just shut-up." Her shoulders heaved up and down. She was numb to the searing pain in her hands and to her peeling skin. Her shoulders dropped finally, her adrenaline leaving her. "Just stop. Stop trying to sit here and talk with me as if there's no space between us, because there is! We had nothing. You didn't even recognize me as a friend, so I don't know why I would ever think you could recognize me as a lover. So how could I?" She fisted her hands against the edge of the sink as he closed his eyes. "How could I ever think I loved you? That's why I'm hurting so badly now. For so many years my passion was built upon this false love I had for you. Apparently, I never grew because I never realized this. I was stuck in my dream world for so long and to be pulled out…I hate change." She leaned over the sink and stared into the drain, trying desperately to pull her thoughts out. "As a girl, I was immune to your rejection. I didn't get it. Had I gotten it then, I could've saved myself the heartache. But I was blinded by this sense of unrequited love. A love that I thought would finally be returned if I could just bring you back. If I did that, if I changed you, then the days of rejection would be over with. It's thoughts like that; petty thoughts like that that fueled me for so long to want to bring you back home.

"Ino tried to figure out why I was still hurting now that you were back. She thought it was because of the bond we shared as kids…but what bond?" She tried to gather herself. She couldn't cry in front of him, especially when she's trying to act so strong. Crying would reverse that. "Tell me, Sasuke-kun," She said mockingly. "What exactly was this special bond we shared? I don't remember one, and I'm almost positive you sure as hell don't. You only cared for me as a teammate. Bound to me only by Team 7 and the duty instilled by the Village to protect your teammates. A duty that, once you were strong enough, you abandoned. You left. And for that? That…that false sense of loyalty you gave to us? For all of my misguided actions, my years of pain, I hate you. And I hate you because that's all that's left now. The love is gone. You've twisted my heart with your words and crushed it with the strong desire you had to destroy us. I hate you! I hate you for the suffering you put Naruto and me through! The bond that you two shared led him to believe that when you left, he could bring you back! That your loyalty wasn't false, that you actually felt something for us. Naruto's love for you kept me going. Have you ever put your faith in something time and time again only for it to keep letting you down?" She choked out.

She couldn't hold it in any longer. She covered her mouth as she cried. Her sobs were loud. She leaned against the sink as a means to keep herself from falling. She'd stay there and cry for hours if she could, but she had to get it out. She had to let him know how she was hurting. She didn't know how that would affect him, if it would at all. But the pain constantly tearing at her heart was eating away at her. If she was going to live with him, look at him each day, she couldn't see him as a painful reminder.

She continued to cry.

She was so preoccupied that she didn't notice the body limp up behind her until he spoke.

"I'll take whatever you throw at me. I deserve it." She paused. Then she turned and punched him in the gut. "I deserve that." He rasped. She punched him again.

"Why'd you come back, huh? To hurt us? Because if that's the case you deserve and A for effort!" She punched him in the chest this time, ignoring his heart injuries.

"I deserve that." He breathed. She continued to punch him in the chest.

"Shut-up! Do you think you can just fall back on us because you've completed your quest? That after you've caused irreplaceable damage to our hearts, that you can just come back and start over? You've reopened wounds! How, just how can one person turn my emotions into an uproar? How? You're not worth it! How could I ever—" He stopped her coming fist and pulled her into his arms.

"I'll wait then. I'll wait until I'm worth it and then on that day we'll regroup." He held onto her tighter and placed his chin atop her head. "If you hate me, then it's for a plausible clause. I may never be aware of how you hurt. To become stronger, I had to rid myself of the strong bonds I held in my heart. To sever them took a lot. I can see you trying to sever the bond between us, and I can't stop you. Sever it. Tell me how much you hate me because I know you mean it. I'll just wait. I'll wait until you feel that you've given me a taste of my own medicine." Her eyes were wide and her body was frozen against him. She couldn't get away from her feelings, could she? From everything she's experienced, she's never been in such close proximity with him, in such close contact unless it was fleeting. She fought her feelings and struggled against him.

"I hate you!" she felt him nod.

"I know." She stopped struggling. "Please hate me, Sakura. Hate me until there's no more hate left. Maybe then your heart can be filled with love for me again. Because I finally think…" He lowered his head and let it rest in the crook of her neck. "I finally think I'm ready to return that love." She buried her face in his chest and gripped the back of his shirt, not caring that her nails were digging into his wounded back. She went slack against his strong arms and cried, letting go of the hate in her heart.

The burden in her chest almost immediately felt lighter.

"Thank-you, Sakura. Thank-you for loving me."

---

He bolted for the gates once he saw them in the distance. He was gone too long. He feared what he would find upon his return. Sakura wouldn't be that vindictive as to kill Sasuke and go into hiding. But harming him horribly and then trying desperately to heal him sounds just like her. He really hoped it didn't come to that.

Gaara requested him in Suna for diplomatic issues. Why he would ask for Naruto of all people, he couldn't decide. But there were complications, and it ran on too long. It was only supposed to be three days, but it ran onto two weeks. Bear Country didn't make the initial conference because of transportation complications. That was the first week he stayed. The second week, Naruto had to accompany Gaara to Snow to apologize for the vast area of land destroyed in their previous fight. And now, he was home.

'Far too long…'

"Hey, Naruto!" He heard a faint voice in the distance.

"I gotta go, Izumo, Kotetsu!" The barrier as the gates started to rise.

"Naruto, you're going too fast, you'll kill yourself!" He skidded to a stop about 10 yards away, stopping right before the rising barrier. Both feet were embedded in the dirt.

"Argh!" He switched out of tailed best mode and dug his feet from the ground. He limped over to their station. "I'm in a hurry; couldn't you have just given me a pass?" Izumo frowned.

"You know going through customs after a mission is mandatory." Naruto rolled eyes.

"You take your job too seriously. Now I really have to go—"

"What're you in such a hurry for anyway?" He ran a tired hand through his hair.

"Sakura." Kotetsu raised an eyebrow.

"Are you two still—?"

"No! No. Not anymore. But she's with Sasuke, I know you've heard." He sighed again. "Can't you just fill it out for me?" He took his pack from his shoulders and dug through it. He pulled out his mission scroll and placed it on the table in front of them.

"That's illegal, and you know it."

"Under the table, then." They frowned. "Baa-chan's not going to fire you. You're the only two suckers who'll do this job anyway." Izumo frowned as Naruto sighed again. "What do I have to do?" Kotetsu's face lit up.

"Well, there is one thing…"

"Well what is it? I don't have much time!" He fingered his goatee.

"Get us a date with Sakura." Naruto's eyes widened.

"But—But, you're old. And together? That's just—"

"Get us a date with Sakura." He repeated.

"Kami, she's going to kill me." He whispered under his breath. Rolling his eyes, he looked up to the early evening sky. He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "Fine, Whatever." Naruto put his fingers together and summoned chakra to unseal his mission scroll.

"Tonight, 7, the Jonin Pub in the food district." He hoisted his pack back onto his shoulders.

"I'm really going to regret this…" He muttered, taking off towards his house.

---

He grabbed the key from the porch light.

"Aah!" He tossed it from hand to hand. He should've thought about light=heat beforehand. He hurriedly jostled the key in the lock and pushed open the door.

"Sakura?" Hearing her name, her frozen arms started working at pulling back from his embrace as Sasuke lips reluctantly left hers.

"Naruto…you're back," Emotions flashed across his face as she jogged towards Naruto, pushing him gently out of the door. She closed it behind her.

"Naruto, I—" He hugged her, one hand wrapped around her middle, the other holding her head to his chest.

"No, don't explain." She pulled back.

"I think I finally understand what all of you meant. Ino, Kakashi, they all said Sasuke came back for me. I mean, why would I believe that? He never showed me any affection, or even care towards me outside of the battlefield. I couldn't fathom…" She grabbed her Haruno shirt, the place above her heart. It's only been two weeks, Naruto, but he's trying. It's not much, but the small steps he's taking to earn our trust…it's enough for me." He smiled. She then looked down and frowned. "Naruto, I hope you're not mad." He furrowed his eyebrows.

"Mad, Haruno, why would I be mad?" She bit her lip.

"Because he…we were…he ki—"

"Sakura, that was a long time ago. We only had each other, and that was fine with the situation we were forced with." She visibly relaxed.

"I just didn't want you to be uncomfortable. I had to reroute his blood flow like I usually do, so he couldn't lay down, because if he did it would clot, and then he would have a heart attack, so I healed him standing up, and then he cornered me—"

"Haruno, breathe." She stopped her rambling and took a deep breath. Boy, Konohamaru sure did grow on her.

"What I mean is, I don't know what's happening. Two weeks ago, I thought he was a bastard, a filthy liar, and a goddamned traitor. I thought that we were fools to think that he's changed. But now…he's opening up, Naruto. He's kissing me, for Kami's sake. Sasuke's come to terms with his past. I think he…" She grabbed a hold of his hand and flattened it against her chest. He moved in closer. "I think he came back so that we could heal together." She smiled at her words. She's been doing a lot of that lately. He squeezed her tighter.

"I'm just so glad you're happy, Sakura. Your pain was eating away at you, and it killed me just as well." She dropped his hand as he shook his head. "You've really been here, alone, with him, for two weeks? No drugs, no fights?" She rolled her eyes.

"Yes, Naruto." He raised an eyebrow. "He changed my whole view of him the afternoon you kicked me out. I needed him seven years ago, and now that's he's here, he needs us." She smoothed her hair back, sighing. "I was stupid. Because of my hate, I almost…I just can't lose him again." He furrowed his eyebrows.

"Does that mean you're still in love with him? It's only been two weeks and…" She shook her head fervently.

"No, Naruto. I want to be friends. I want to begin building a relationship with him. Committing to a relationship with a teammate was and still isn't appropriate." He closed his eyes. "I'll just have to walk before I run." She turned quickly and walked back into the apartment. He moved and followed her.

"Hey Teme." Naruto grinned as he took off his sandals and placed them at the door.

"Dobe." He replied casually as he sat sideways on the couch, the leg that was wrapped in a cast elevated on the seat. Naruto was about to go and greet him when he stopped immediately, smacking a hand across his head.

"Sakura, you have a d—!" He slapped a hand over his mouth as she quickly turned to face him, concern etched across her face.

"What? I have a what?" She pestered. He blinked, trying to rephrase his words.

"We have a get-together, tonight I think, at the Pub, in-in the food district. It's at um…It's at 7!" Her eyebrows were furrowed as Naruto stuttered out his words.

"Okay…" She said skeptically. "What type of get-together? And what should I wear?" He put a finger on his chin.

"Uh, just a small one, I guess. And…casual?" She raised her eyebrows. "Casual, yes casual." She shrugged her shoulders.

"Alright, well it's only six so I still have to find something to wear. And if it's a small gathering then it'll probably just be the usual crowd so not too dressy." She whispered to herself. "Ah, I've been craving to get out!" Sasuke turned ad gave her a look. "I mean like…go to a—Oh, you know what I mean." He rolled his eyes. She turned back to Naruto. "I have to go call Pig, and—"

"No!" Yet again, her eyebrows furrowed, confused at his sudden outburst. "I mean, she already knows. She'll be there at 7 too, I think." He muttered the last part. She rolled her eyes.

"Whatever you say, Uzumaki." She walked over into the living room and stood beside Sasuke, properly elevating his leg and putting pillows underneath it.

"Ah, ah, Sakura, please." He gasped. She stopped immediately. Frowning, she combed her fingers through her shoulder-length hair. She pulled a hair tie from her medic skirt and placed her hair in a ponytail on top of her head.

"Naruto, what am I going to do with Sasuke?" She placed her hands on her hips and Naruto met her beside the couch. "I can't go. I'm supposed to be taking care of him, and his heart—"

"I'm fine. Just take me to the room so that I can sleep." He laid back on the couch and rested his arms behind his head. "I'm tired, anyway. I haven't been sleeping." Naruto gave a pointed look to Sakura. She gave him one right back.

"I hope you're not assuming I'm carrying you there. I have to figure out a way to put you to sleep." Sasuke opened his eyes and frowned.

"Just use what you use for me." Naruto offered. She immediately shook her head.

"It's too strong. It'll—"

"I can take whatever he can take." Sasuke retorted. She sighed, rubbing a hand down her face.

"You say that now…" She whispered. "Okay. Naruto, take him through the dark red door beside the hallway bathroom. Here," She reached into her medic skirt and grabbed her key. She put it in his outstretched hand.

"The room's locked?" She nodded.

"It's a home care patient room, so I can't really leave it accessible to just anyone." He shrugged, reaching down and hoisting Sasuke over his shoulder.

"I swear to God, Naruto, put me down." Sasuke growled. Naruto headed for the room.

"Alright, Haruno, I'll help him through meditation while you go wash up." She folded her hands together.

"Do not touch me, Dobe!"

"It's not my fault your groin is on my—Ah! Don't kick me!" Sakura closed her eyes.

"Please don't break anything of mine, because with Kami as my witness, you both will be slaughtered." She said calmly. They stopped.

"Yes, Sakura."

---

"I'm going to the bathroom. I'll be right back!" Naruto bounded off for the lavatory and left Sakura seated between the two older Chunin. She sat there awkwardly, twirling her finger through some of the loose strands that fell from her hair. Most of it sat in a bun atop her head, the rest outlining her face. Tonight, she chose to wear a red v-neck sweater and black pants. Her heels were low and sensible, and her make-up was light.

She fidgeted in her seat, drumming her fingers across the counter of the bar.

"So…how have you two been?" Izumo stared at her nervously. She stared back. Kotetsu smiled, leaning back in his bar chair. She liked Kotetsu.

"Oh, same ole' same ole'. Hasn't really been anyone interesting popping through the gates. Matter of fact, the last real action we had was when your team came home." He knew it was the wrong thing to say when her attention averted to her fingernails. Izumo noticed too, and reprimanded him by reaching around her and slapping him in the arm.

"Yeah, I heard Konoha was pretty lively, that early in the morning. It was all just a mechanical daze for me." She whispered as Kotetsu waved his hand for a round of drinks.

"So what have you been up to lately?" Kotetsu asked. She looked up at him and blinked, shaking her head.

"Me? Um…Well, I'm taking care of Sasuke, so I haven't really had time for anything else. But the Jonin exams are coming up and I'm considering taking them this time around. But most of the elites are retesting, so I can't lie and say that I'm not frightened. I just have to pass it this year, though. If I get any older, it'd be embarrassing to still be Chunin." She finished with a chuckle. It died in her throat when she noticed the seriousness on their faces. She subtly looked around to see if anyone else would show up. She checked her watch and saw that it was 7:45. Now she knew that Ino could be late, but everyone else? Late? No. Especially not at the same time. At least not Lee. Lee would be early, if anything. Her gaze turned back to the Pub door as Neji walked in. She smiled. "Excuse me," She placed her purse down on the counter and moved out of her chair. She walked near the entrance as Neji met her halfway.

"Hey, green eyes." His hand caressed her arm gently. "How have you been?" It moved back down and squeezed her hand. "You haven't been out lately." She sighed, squeezing back as she moved in closer.

"I know, I know. I've had some…personal issues to take care of. But it's fine now." He smiled.

"How's Sasuke, is he okay?" She nodded.

"He's doing better, but his struggle is far from over. I don't know how Naruto did it, but he broke every bone in Sasuke's right leg, and he had blunt force trauma in his chest which caused an aortic rupture. He should've died, Neji. I don't know what happened out there, but I'm just glad I was able to heal him as adequately as I did. He could've—"

"But he didn't. He's here." He now had a hold of both of her hands. "You were gone for six weeks, chasing your final lead. Sakura, I missed you so much." He nuzzled her neck, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Before you left, we were—"

"Yes, I know." His lips lingered on her nose, and she promptly stood on her tippy toes and crushed her mouth to his. He deepened the kiss, licking her lips as if asking for entrance. Her mouth opened greedily and he pushed into her. Sakura fisted her hands in his black long-sleeve shirt just as his hands sat firmly at her hips.

"Sakura?" Naruto said, appearing from almost nowhere. This was the second time he caught her kissing today.

"Hey Sakura, I thought we were on a date!" Kotetsu said angrily.

"Date? What?" Sakura replied in confusion as Neji pulled away from her, his hands still on her hips.

"Kotetsu, shhhhh!" Naruto exclaimed with a finger over his mouth.

"You didn't tell her?" Her eyes narrowed.

"Tell me what?" Kotetsu moved closer to the two heated bodies.

"That we were on a date." Her eyes narrowed dangerously.

"We're on a what? Uzumaki Naruto, I swear to Kami—"

"Okay, Okay! I set up a date for you with Izumo and Kotetsu so that they would fill out my admission papers for me. I had to hurry back to see you, Sakura. Just to see if you were okay—"

"A date?" She shrieked. "You offered me up for a date?" Naruto cringed. "How dare—"

"Get your filthy hands off of him, slut." She paused, her hands balled up in fists now. She could recognize that voice from anywhere, and just the sound of it made her blood boil. She saw red flash behind her eyes.

"What did you just call me, bitch?"

---

Each and every one of you all deserves a baker's dozen of chocolate cupcakes. You've waited for this chapter for a long time, so I made sure it was longer just because of it. Thank you all for staying with me. Also, a revision of chapter 13 is coming, most likely with the next chapter. Stay tuned, and don't forget to review!

-Keoo19