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Welcome to the Surprise Alternate Ending of Fight Inside. I have received A LOT of feedback on this short fic, and, since I feel like some evil human being, I decided to hand you all a lollipop in the form of an alternate version of how things went. A few things to note:

I will not be rewriting the first half of the original ending, you can assume that still took place.

Due to the fact that I won't be rewriting the first half of the original ending, this chapter won't be as long since it was meant to wrap up loose ends.

And, as an fyi for your enjoyment, I have been asked to write a shortfic as a request of a reader from this fiction VampireBassist. It will also be a Sasu/Saku pairing as an epilogue fic to the original Naruto series set before Gaiden and after the end of the original Naruto series. This is not a sequel to Fight Inside.

Loyalty of the Uchiha,

will make its presence known three hours or so after this is posted. That is if I can concentrate and deem the work good enough to post. It will contain 4-5 chapters as a whole. Yes, another short fic.

Otherwise, do enjoy the alternate ending and I would like to humbly thank you for your support and appreciation of my hard work. Thank you.

-Reku-

Disclaimer: Naruto, in all facts and facilities belongs to Masashi Kishimoto. I just borrow them for awhile. All emotional rollercoasters, heartbreaks, and pent up suspense, plotlines and what have you belong to me. Enjoy.

The Third Blossoming of a Cherry Blossom

Sakura coughed and sputtered as the reality of the world came crashing down upon her. The pain in her chest returned full force as two strong hands steadied her from falling forward. She lifted her gaze to peer into two blood-red pinwheels. The expression they held was intense, but it was also pained.

Her eyes brimmed with tears as she reached out to touch his face and he let her. He even leaned into her palm, into her touch. She couldn't help the few tears that escaped her eyes at the tender gesture. He was reassuring her...letting her know that what they had experienced what they had done...it was real.

Naruto's eyes widened at the open display of affection between his two teammates that he thought he'd have to go through hell and high water to convince to be together. However, that had all fallen into place on its own. Perhaps only a little too late.

Kakashi watched, what he was sure was, the last shred of humanity anyone would ever see from the Uchiha. For this death would surely destroy him.

"What...What is this feeling," the flat tone of the ex-root member called through the silence.

Kakashi glanced at the younger man who was rubbing at his chest. "It aches but I am not wounded."

He glanced up into the Copy nin's eyes with confusion and even fear, and for a moment Kakashi wondered if it was a wise thing to teach the unfeeling man about emotions. Maybe he was better off without them. None the less, it was a sensation he knew all too well.

"That, Sai," Kakashi whispered softly as his gaze returned to his dying student and the rogue who loved her, "is grief, guilt, and sorrow all mixed up in one."

"It hurts," Sai commented still rubbing at the spot on his chest.

"I know," Kakashi murmured as horrendous coughs began to rack her small frame.

"Will it stop?" He asked quietly his eyebrows still furrowed in confusion at this new sensation he was experiencing but his eyes were also fixed on the scene before them.

Kakashi wanted to assure the young man that in a few days time it would all just be a bad memory. That in time it would fade away into nothing. That it would be as if nothing had ever happened...but Kakashi wasn't one to lie.

His gaze hardened as the painful look of hysteria and grief overtook the raven-haired shinobi's face as Sakura doubled over in pain and spat out blood as if it were a bad drink. He watched as Sasuke tried to steady her as she was suffocating in her own fluids. As the life was being stolen from her breath by breath and there was nothing any of them could do about it.

"No," he said as Sasuke shed a single tear as the pinkette's breathing became more and more thready, "it doesn't."

Sakura choked once more on the thick, red fluid running out of the side of her mouth. She knew she was suffocating. If only she could purge her system of it then she might be able to breathe.

Her viridian orbs drifted upward to see the trembling shoulders of the Uchiha. His face was the perfect reflection of what she felt: intense agony.

Managing a smile she lifted her hand, that had been gripping Kusanagi, to touch the side of his face again. Her hand trembled slightly as it moved. Her strength was waning at an alarming rate.

She sighed when his firmer grasp enclosed on her hand holding it steady. It was amazing how much comfort that single gesture brought her. After so much time lost, he still loved her. He still accepted her even through all the times that he'd rejected her in the past. He wanted her now. Her eyes softened at the thought.

She was taken aback when he tilted his head toward hers and used his hand on her other shoulder to pull her forward gently bumping his forehead to hers. She closed her eyes relishing in the contact while she could still feel it.

Sasuke couldn't help her. He knew that, and it killed him inside. He wasn't even sure what he could do for her. He'd never had someone he cared about die that wasn't, intentionally, by his hand. How did you comfort a dying person as their body warred against their will shutting down slowly and painfully killing off each organ one by one to extend the life of the person by mere seconds?

He felt a deep growl emanate from his throat. He could feel team Taka approaching hurriedly from the east. His red eyes narrowed slightly willing them to move faster. Sakura was running out of time, and that was further emphasized by the way her body was lurching in his hold.

Sakura was straining to breathe. She had submitted, resigned, herself to the fact that taking that leap in front of Kakashi would end her life. She had accepted the fact that she would die, and all of her dreams would go along with it. Everything she wanted to do...but she hadn't counted on one thing: she wasn't expecting him to love her back.

She spat another wad of blood from her mouth as her shoulders heaved in effort. She hadn't known he would return her feelings so...feverently. Nor had she expected his feelings to be so..intense. They had rekindled echoes of emotion inside of her heart that she thought she had long since extinguished. She smirked to herself at how foolish she had been as those embers now burned as raging flames within her chest.

All of their lives, the village had told them in order to be a true shinobi you must be willing to die. Whether it be for the greater good of the mission or for the sake of your comrades. Hyuuga Neji had embodied that mantra.

Her whole life, Sakura had imagined this was how she'd end up leaving this world. Staring down the end of a blade at her enemy. How ironic that it would be the man that she also loved. A man she had dreamed of sharing her life with. Having children with. Creating a life with. Healing.

Tears threatened to blur her already darkening vision. As a medic she knew what came next, but she wasn't ready for that, just yet. Her eyes widened at the realization: she didn't want to die. The thought set her body into panic mode, and she heaved up more blood from her lungs.

From the corner of her eye, she could see red eyes widen slightly. He looked horrified. She had to do something.

"N-Nar-Naru-to," she choked out in between gasps.

The blonde's attention broke out of his dark thoughts as the airy voice called his name. This was matched with a skeptical and confused look by Sasuke. However, within seconds the Kyuubi was by her side.

"What is it Sakura-chan," he replied uneasily.

He hadn't gotten a good look at her from where he had been standing, as her back was to him, but now, as blue eyes scanned her visage, he was hit with the gravity of the situation. He honestly wasn't sure how she was still alive. There was more blood painting her skin then there could have been inside her body.

"Y-you ow-e m-me so-me ch-chakra," she replied jokingly her viridian orbs clashing with his blue hues.

Naruto's brow furrowed in confusion, but Sasuke followed her train of thought completely. On the battlefield during the fight that ended the war, Kurama's red chakra had healed their comrades subconsciously. It could do the same for her now…

"Naruto," Sasuke intoned urgently, "Call on Kurama."

The blonde just stared, as he was momentarily shocked by the fact that Sasuke had just used his name, before his mind connected. It looked as though someone had yelled at him. More than likely, Kurama.

"Right," he said as he made a hand sign and closed his eyes.

Sakura coughed again throwing up more blood before a red glow emitted from the blonde's body. Slowly it drifted over Sakura engulfing her entirely.

Kakashi waited with baited breath. He could feel how tense Sai was beside him. This would be the moment that decided her fate, and the fate of the other two along with her.

In the past, Kakashi would have said that Sakura's contribution to the team was minimal at best, but he had learned since then. And seeing them now, his revelation was all but confirmed: she was the team.

Sasuke and Naruto far surpassed her in power. However, she had done something that neither of them could on their own. She united them. They functioned like a single cell. Like a body. Sasuke and Naruto were the arms. Kakashi had been the head...but Sakura...she had been, she was, the heart. Something the body could not function without. Without her...they would all be lost.

She sputtered again. "What's going on dobe," Sasuke growled.

Naruto's brow furrowed as Sasuke invaded on his concentration. "Shut up. It's not as easy as it looks."

"You've done it before," the Uchiha spat looking like a wild animal that would attack if his wishes were not met.

"Yeah," Naruto intoned his eyes still closed, "but that was different."

"How was that different? Sakura is dying!" Sasuke all but yelled.

Naruto's eyes opened revealing red slits, his whiskers were more pronounced, and his teeth had sharpened. It was a level one transformation, "You think I don't know that?!"

"Naruto," Kakashi scolded harshly, "Focus. Sakura's life depends on it."

His cold tone was like the bucket of ice water the situation needed. Naruto reverted to his meditative state and Sasuke was shamed into silence, but Kakashi's eyes were trained on the pink-haired woman several feet from him. Any other person would have been dead by now. The only thing keeping her alive was sheer willpower, and that didn't need to be tested or strained needlessly because the other two couldn't stop bickering. They would kill her that way.

Movement to his left made Kakashi turn his head, Sai was drawing something. Seconds later, a giant bird appeared into existence. Kakashi looked over to Sai in question.

"Team Taka is lost," he intoned quietly as he watched as the giant fowl ascended swiftly into the sky, "Sakura will need Karin's assistance if she is to live."

Kakashi nodded.

"Where are you," Sasuke said coldly as he activated the mic by his throat. There was static before Suigetsu's muffled voice came over the channel.

"On our way Sasuke. Ran into some interference. Should be there soon."

"Get here now," Sasuke bit coldly.

Red orbs studied her form. Her breathing was improving, but infinitesimally if at all. At least Naruto was stabilizing her for the moment. He hated to admit it, but he needed Karin right now. If only Naruto's mastery of Kurama's chakra was greater. He grit his teeth. If only he had been more observant. He wouldn't have stabbed the woman he loved. Loves.

Kusanagi was still lodged inside of her body the tip pointed into the air by the angle that she was leaning against him. It made his insides twist painfully.

'Not as painfully as hers,' his mind shot at him sending a wave of guilt through his body.

He made a note to learn medical jutsu once he got back to Konoha. He had long since decided where he would go after this little occurrence. After what had happened, especially between them, he couldn't just walk away again like nothing changed. Like he didn't care.

His gaze left her for a second as he peered at his former sensei who stood as a tense sentry on the outskirts of the situation, observing as per usual. Thus, he noticed when Sasuke's gaze graced him.

He looked aged. Older. Not physically but the weight of what was happening showed just how old he was. He'd seen this happen far too many times, and was cynical of the outcome. However, there was something there. A light that glimmered in the darkness of pain and resignation that clouded his eyes. Hope.

He nodded to Sasuke who returned the gesture. Kakashi had always understood him best. He knew he'd be coming back with them. He knew he wouldn't leave this time.

Naruto was shaking in his meditative state. It was like he hadn't ever broken the seal on Kurama. He could barely access the normally potent chakra of the kyuubi. He gritted his teeth as he looked deeper into his core.

'Why….why when she needs me the most...do I fail?'

"Dammit," he growled as a film of sweat appeared on the blonde's brow. Finally, Kurama's voice came through his muddled thoughts.

'Your thoughts are too marred with emotion. You need to focus. Clear your mind.'

"I will not be the reason you die, Sakura," he growled as he forced his own chakra into her system mixing with the kyuubi's, "You won't die because of me again.."

Sasuke watched the exchange seeing the pain clearly etched across his friend's face. Her first death had done something to him. It had scarred him. Although he hid it much better, the blonde was nearly as crazy with hysteria as he was. He could see it in his breathing pattern, and the way he kept checking to make sure Sakura was still there.

Seconds later, noises in the bushes alerted the group of shinobi. Kakashi had drawn three kunai in preparation for defending his wounded student from further assault. It would fall on his shoulders to defend them while they were all so vulnerable...just like it had back then.

Sasuke recognized the signatures immediately and slightly turned his head as Suigetsu came into view.

"Get Karin over here now," he growled lowly.

Suigetsu's eyes widened at all the crimson that stained the ground all around their leader, "Is all that yours?" He asked disbelievingly as Karin rushed through them to get to Sasuke's side.

"No," Sasuke intoned emotionlessly.

Karin knelt beside Sasuke before her eyes fell on the pink-haired kunoichi that he held against him so tenderly. Her eyes flashed to meet Sasuke's red-sharingan gaze. There was no question in that look of what he wanted her to do.

The bridge of her nose rose in a snarl. This woman was her competition for Sasuke's affections. Why should she help her? She nearly scoffed in disgust. The woman was nearly dead anyway. She hadn't registered her chakra signature until she actually saw her. That's how close she was. It would take nearly all of her own chakra to stabilize her.

His deep tenor voice broke her from her thoughts, "If you love me," Sasuke started, "truly love me. You'll heal her."

Everyone was silent. Karin's eyes widened as she looked back down at the woman he held. Her breathing was shallow. Her skin was nearly white from the mass amount of blood she had lost due to her injuries. The Kusanagi was a mean weapon. All of these were obvious at a first glance, but what she saw now was something she'd never thought she'd ever see from her Uchiha captain.

They were subtle but the signs were clear. The way he gripped her shoulder firmly yet tenderly. The angle that he rested her against him nearly tucking her under his chin in order to bring her comfort and to protect her. Then there was his gaze. He looked down at her and the normally hard, firm edges around his eyes softened. Not much in the presence of company, but it was enough for Karin, who had been studying his mannerisms for years now, to know that he was in love with this woman.

The red-head lowered her face as an ironic smirk splayed across her features. She would have to heal the woman who had stolen him from her.

Lifting her face she rolled up her sleeve, "Alright," she started with a firm gaze. She could crumble later but for now she had something to prove: her love. "Bite down on my arm," she said softly to the pastel haired woman who barely nodded in response.

Karin winced slightly as Sakura's teeth broke her skin. It was the weakest bite she'd ever received from anyone she'd ever healed. Her other hand glowed a light green as it hovered over the place that Kusanagi had ruptured.

"Someone will have to pull Kusanagi from the wound," she informed softly.

"Hn," Sasuke replied and began to shift in order to grasp its hilt, but a pained whimper stopped him dead in his tracks. Red eyes widened slightly as his gaze sharply returned to Sakura who was shaking. He couldn't do it.

Suigetsu walked around to stand before Sasuke who eyed him apprehensively. A smirk graced the mist nin's face. He was fiercely protective of this one. He could tease him about it later, but for now he had something else to do.

"Hey," he said softly getting Sakura's attention. Viridian eyes centered on his figure as he smiled, "Name's Suigetsu. I'm going to pull this out of your gut, alright?" Sakura seemed to nod and he continued as both hands took firm purchase on the hilt and his eyes lifted to meet Sasuke's, "I will try to be gentle."

Kakashi shifted uncomfortably in the background. He wasn't too keen on trusting the life of his student to some rogue nin, but he knew Sasuke wouldn't let them damage Sakura any further than he already had. At least he wouldn't now.

Sai was brushing vigorously on his pad of paper. Kakashi glanced at him again, "I am informing the Hokage of our...progress." Kakashi raised a hand to still his.

"Wait...wait until.."

"Until she gets saved," he finished. The Copy nin only nodded.

Sasuke found one of Sakura's hands that was now gripping his thumb on his right hand tightly. He wrapped his other arm around her torso, that was still angled against him, to brace her and him for the onslaught of pain to come. "Sakura," he said quietly into her hair, "it'll be okay." She whimpered softly.

"Whatever you do," Suigetsu said before he started to unsheath the katana, "don't pass out."

Suigetsu started slowly as Karin's hand hovered over the wound healing and stopping the bleeding as he went.

Sasuke's hand was quickly turning white. Her strength was minimal but it increased slightly with the amount of pain she was experiencing. Her body writhed against his and he had to ignore the images from his Tsukuyomi that her movements awoke in him. However, the source of these movements was quite different.

He looked down into her face to see tears brimming in her eyes as she tried to restrain her screams. It was torturous for him to watch. They couldn't do this all at once and get it over with because the wound had to be healed as the katana was removed to prevent further blood loss. He growled lowly in frustration.

Suigetsu's face was set in solemnness. He was impressed with her. Most shinobi, especially kunoichi, by now would have been screaming. He knew the blade was cutting into her more as it was removed. He supposed it was good that Sasuke kept the blade sharpened so much, otherwise it might have been more painful.

Sakura felt nothing but pain. It was blinding. She could feel her skin grow hot against Sasuke's cool temperature and knew it was from the pain. She leaned her head back and bit into her lip. She had long since released Karin. Her legs moved involuntarily along with the pain. She'd never felt this much pain before. It was enough to cause unconsciousness, but she had to remain awake. To fall asleep now would mean death.

"Sa-Sasu-" she started.

"Shut up, Sakura," Sasuke said curtly but no one missed the soft undertone it held.

He closed his eyes as she whimpered more. It killed him hearing her call his name while in so much pain. His grip on her tightened as her whimpers grew into cries of pain. It was getting worse.

He opened his eyes to see that her sounds were affecting Naruto as well. His brow was twitching in his semi-meditative state. The red chakra was pouring out in greater quantity. Whatever internal turmoil he'd had before was slowly being resolved. It was a good thing. They'd need him. She'd need him.

He chanced a glance at Kakashi whose fists were balled at his sides. They were shaking and his gaze was riveted on Sakura. He felt for him. He was in the same position. Every fiber in his being told him to kill Suigetsu for hurting her further, but his logical side kept him still with the information that he was doing what needed to be done to save her life.

His arm, that encircled her slim waist, was now covered in blood. How much more could she afford to lose?

He gritted his teeth as she began to scream. They were painful to his ears. He buried his face in her hair to give her some comfort at such an agonizing sound. It pulled at his heart strings.

Suigetsu's heart nearly broke with every inch, but he couldn't stop now. Kusanagi was half-way out of her. "Sakura-san," he called trying to get her to focus. Harsh breaths were his only acknowledgement, "It's almost over. I promise." His hands trembled as he pulled on the katana more before he stopped entirely.

Chancing a glance at Karin he growled. "I can't take this anymore. I'm pulling it out all at once."

"What are you crazy?!" She thundered causing Sasuke to look up with narrow eyes.

"We are prolonging her agony by doing this slowly," he retorted, "I know you can heal faster than this Karin," Suigetsu gave her a pointed look to which she paled.

"Even if I could, this is the best way to treat these types of wounds. Slowly. All at once and I could miss something," she argued.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed severely. Karin was prolonging her agony by doing it slowly. Possibly for her own pleasure, and Suigetsu wanted to remove the katana all at once ending her prolonged pain but possibly putting her life in danger by doing so. His sharingan swirled morphing into the eternal sharingan as his anger rose dangerously.

Suigetsu had noticed this and fell silent but held his gaze. It was his call. A tough one to make. Sasuke could feel uncertainty well up within his chest before he said, "She dies. I'll kill you both."

Suigetsu nodded as he gripped the hilt, "Ready Karin."

She only nodded.

In one fluid movement, befitting of the swordsman he was, Suigetsu removed Kusanagi with minimal excess damage. Karin was before Sakura in seconds pressing her glowing hand to the open wound.

Sasuke shifted Sakura fully onto his lap after Kusanagi was removed. He wasn't concerned with the strange look Jugo was sending him because of that or the slight smirk that sported on Suigetsu's face. He was focused on one thing: Sakura had stopped breathing.

"Naruto," he called his voice uncontrolled as he tilted her face toward his and felt for her pulse.

"I know," he growled as a large wave of chakra covered all of them within a ten foot radius of Sakura.

The kyuubi's chakra immediately sealed most of her wounds. Steam rose from the hole in her abdomen as it closed seamlessly.

Sasuke's fingers fumbled along what he knew to be the carotid artery. Red eyes narrowed when there was no pulse to be found. Quickly he jerked her body off of his and laid her on the ground before him.

All of them watched with baited breath as the thunder rolled overhead loudly.

Sasuke laid his head on her chest and closed his eyes listening. Nothing. Growling he checked her pulse in her wrist again. Nothing. The bridge of his nose was wrinkled in a snarl. He was not going to lose her now. Not when he'd just…

Remembering what he could of basic first aid from the academy he opened her mouth and placed his over hers, not caring that eyes were watching, and breathed gently into her airway.

The first droplets of rain fell against Kakashi's face as he watched his favorite student desperately try to revive another. A pained expression crossed his face. It was all up to Sakura now. Whether or not she fought to live. Whether or not she could. If she was strong enough to endure all of that and come out on top.

Sasuke pulled away as the rain started to pour down earnestly on them all. Sasuke hated the rain. Every bad thing in his life had happened when it rained. He'd defeated Naruto in the rain and defected from Konoha in the rain. He'd killed his brother as the rain began to pour, and now...he was losing the woman he loved..in the rain.

Thunder cracked in the sky above them seemingly mocking him. Sasuke punched the ground beside her head. "Damn it!"

His shoulders heaved with the barely restrained anger as he interlaced his fingers before placing his palms on her chest.

Kakashi watched on and for some reason the words of the Third reached his ears. It was from a time before he'd taken on team seven. He had been less than thrilled to be mentoring an Uchiha, the last Uchiha. Now he could willingly admit that it was because of his past with Obito that he had hesitated.

He had been skeptical. Asking the Third why he'd want the Uchiha to be trained under him. If he thought that Sasuke would turn on the village as his family had almost done. Wasn't he just the same, black-hearted individual that his clan boasted to harbor. The old man had just laughed at him softly before saying these next words that sounded in his mind as he watched Sasuke desperately try to resuscitate her.

'The Uchiha for all their mastery in nin and genjutsu do have one other unique strength that remains hidden from the eye of most of the world. For all their ferocity in battle and tenacity in the midst of a fight, they are one clan that I would see revived for one mere fact: out of all the clans that Konoha houses, the Uchiha value love above all else. And when they find that love, whether it be for their village, for their friends, or for some specific individual, their fierceness is unmatched in protecting it. They will do anything, exhaust all options, give their very lives to defend it.'

Kakashi closed his eyes.

' And what happens when they lose that thing they love?'

There was a brief pause, 'That is where the Uchiha insanity is derived from, Kakashi.'

Upon opening his eyes, Kakashi watched as Sasuke punched the ground beside Sakura's head with his other arm bracing him from her other side as he leaned over her.

"God dammit Sakura!" He yelled at no one in particular as he bowed his head, his hair curtaining around his face, "Don't you dare leave me!" Tears unbidden fell from his eyes and landed on her still face, "I am coming back for you. I was coming back for you. Because…." His voice choked as tears blurred his vision.

Lifting his right hand her gently traced the shape of her face with his fingers as he drank in each detail burning them into his memory forever.

Karin was stifling sobs in her own throat. She had never seen him like this. So distraught. So gentle. So emotional. This woman meant the world to him.

She remembered that time on the bridge when the pink-haired woman had asked her if she was okay. Being kind even though she knew she was the competition at the time. She had meant it. Offered her assistance genuinely. A single tear fell from the red-head's eyes.

Suigetsu was at a loss for words. Who knew Sasuke would actually love someone like this? He didn't. He sat back not sure what he should do with himself when he saw Karin crying. His eyes softened slightly.

Naruto gripped the ground tightly in his fists. He had failed, again, to protect her. To save her. Red chakra swirled around him intensely. Opening his eyes he directed it all at Sakura in one last ditch effort.

Kakashi watched as Sasuke glanced over his shoulder at Naruto. His protective instincts were kicking in. With a mass of chakra that size directed at him...at Sakura. He would retaliate. Kakashi felt old in this moment as he drew kunai again in a half-hearted attempt to stop the inevitable battle.

Naruto's eyes were slits as he saw Sasuke bear the demon shuriken before him blocking the wave of chakra from him and Sakura. Karin and Suigetsu had retreated several feet. Only he and Sasuke were left standing.

Grief and anger flooded his system as his nails lengthened into claws. A single blood-red eternal sharingan peered at him behind one of the many blades. This fight would be to the death.

Naruto formed his rasengan in preparation the red swirling ball raging at his side. "You let her die Teme."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed dangerously as he gritted his teeth, "I did not," he growled as he rose to his feet.

Naruto charged at him, "Stabbed her through with Kusanagi," he said swiping at him with the rasengan.

Sasuke grabbed Sakura's body, that he cradled gently to his chest, before leaping away as the rasengan connected with a tree disintegrating it upon contact. Landing gracefully before Kakashi he lay Sakura down at his feet. His eyes lingered on her body a moment too long before he glanced at his former sensei, "Take care of her body for me."

Kakashi didn't have time to respond before he leapt back into the fray. His chocolate eyes regarded the Uchiha. All of that rage, it had somehow vanished. It was now Naruto who was raging. So what was Sasuke feeling? One glance told him enough. It was the same emotion reflected in the Uchiha's gaze that drummed in his own chest constantly: guilt.

"Why!" Naruto yelled against the rain, "Why did you let her die!" He threw multiple kunai at Sasuke before charging him.

"It was beyond my control!" Sasuke yelled back as he dodged the kunai then expertly blocked the punch thrown at him with his left arm. Their faces were mere inches apart as their stares bore into each other's eyes.

There was an emotion there Naruto didn't register in his angered state before he threw the dark haired shinobi back.

"She loved you Teme!" He roared before creating shadow clones and charging the Uchiha again.

"I know!" He yelled back his control slipping as the anger renewed. He defeated each shadow clone then drew a kunai and swiped at Naruto's face. The kyuubi dodged the attack deftly and caught his wrist.

"Then why did you let her die! Did you want her to die! Didn't you ever care about her!" Naruto retorted as he tried to shove him back. Something, in that moment, in the Uchiha snapped.

His eyes widened then narrowed again as he let Naruto's fist fly by him. He sent the blonde flying with a roundhouse kick to the gut. In midair, he met him executing an axe kick to Naruto's back sending him earthward. The impact created a crater.

Sasuke landed feet from him before he yelled back, "I loved her you fucking dobe!" His shoulders heaved with anger and the weight of his confession. His face didn't burn from embarrassment like it would have before. In its place there was this resounding hollow pain that echoed through his chest.

Naruto stood up slowly. He gripped his right shoulder but didn't look Sasuke in the eye. His head was bowed slightly. It reminded Sasuke of their younger years. Their first fight. The silence seemed to span for minutes before there was a reply.

"I know."

Both of them stood there breathing hard neither one looking at the other.

"For how long," Naruto questioned his tone soft.

"When I woke up after being caught in Haku's ice prison. She was crying on my chest," he said quietly as the memory washed over him softening his features, "That's when I knew that I cared about her. As the team grew, so did this persistent feeling I knew nothing of," he reached for the right side of his chest subconsciously with his left hand, "all I knew was something changed. Then during the Chunin exams," he said his voice taking on a darker tone, "when I discovered what that sound nin trash had done to her…"

Images of her bloodied face and beaten body entered his mind's eye.

The unspoken words reached Naruto's ears clearly but Sasuke continued.

"She was the hardest one to say goodbye to," a fond smirk found its way across his face, "she would be the one to find me….," he bowed his head further, "she was always so annoying like that."

Naruto smiled slightly, "Yeah."

Memories of her healing him filled his mind. Defending her from the fake-Kabuto. Yelling at her for being willing to throw her life away so recklessly. That had been the motivation. The strength he needed to break out of that crystallized prison. She was always there motivating him. Calling him out when he was wrong. Chastising him for leaving the hospital early. Guarding his back. Worrying about him.

A long silence followed their brief conversation. The rain had long since stopped.

A soft gasp behind him had Sasuke turning his head. Naruto glanced up and looked toward the sound as well. The scene had their eyes widening.

Kakashi heard the exchange between the boys, but his attention was more focused on the body before him. He knelt, falling half of the way, on the ground beside Sakura. His eyes glazed over with grief as a shaky hand reached for her, but he hesitated drawing his hand away back to him.

He turned his head to see Sai watching the exchange with curiosity. The pale male knelt beside her. Curiously, he pulsed green healing chakra into his fingertips. Kakashi watched intently as he placed his hand over her heart and sent the entire wave of chakra into the organ below the skin.

Seconds passed and Kakashi closed his eyes. The sounds he heard next ripped his eyes open. Coughing. Sakura was coughing.

Karin beside him gasped. That's when he felt rather than saw two sets of eyes boring into his being. He raised his glance to meet blood-red orbs.

Sasuke's movements could not be registered by anything other than a sharingan as he appeared by Sakura's side. Sai backed away as Sasuke knelt in his place watching her face intently.

"Sakura," he said disbelievingly.

"S-Sa-Sasuke-kun?"

Relief flooded his system as he bowed his head gritting his teeth once more as tears stained his face. He felt a shaky hand run its fingers through his hair. He quickly caught the wrist it belonged to stopping its movements.

Sakura didn't remember much of what happened. All she knew was that she was awake...and Sasuke was beside her. Her eyes softened as she gazed at him then widened slightly when he stopped her wrist. She watched as he lifted his head slightly so only she could see the tears that marred his face.

"Sasuke…" she said softly.

The next thing she knew, she was being held to his chest tightly as he buried his head in her hair. "You're so annoying," he said quietly the softened edge to his voice unmistakable.

She smiled softly as she gently returned his embrace. "I know."