Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

It's over! The war is finally over!

Sasuke tried to get up but the immeasurable pain seeping through his body held him back forcefully, as he crashed back into the hard ground. Gritting his teeth, he laid back on the grass. His body was covered in bruises and his eyes hurt like a bitch. Blood seeped from his right eye due to extended use of his new rinnegan. Beside him, Naruto was cursing as he too tried to get up. He wasn't in any better shape either. Their fight had depleted all their chakra and left them with wounds covering their entire body. It didn't take long until Naruto was surrounded by his former teammates from Konoha. That idiot was smiling sheepishly as he rewarded with declarations of praise and respect. Sasuke knew how much of an outcast Naruto was once before. He was an outcast himself. Which is why he both hated him and secretly admired him. He even felt envious to how he was able to function after all the stares and eyes of disgust that was directed at him as he grew up. And now looking at how far things have changed for him...Sasuke didn't want to admit it but he felt slightly jealous.

Sasuke, on the other hand, knew that it was all over for him. Not that he cared. It was like everyone forgotten about Sasuke's presence. Sakura was too busy healing Naruto's arm, tears running down her cheeks, as he she tried to focus on her chakra control.

If he was not injured as badly as he was, Sasuke would have fled. They probably wouldn't have even noticed he was gone. Any attempt to move right now, however, was absolutely impossible.

"Tch." Defeated, Sasuke laid still on the cold ground.

"Stop moving baka!" Sakura smacked Naruto on his head.

"Ow! Sakura-chan I am already hurt as it is!" Naruto complained, loudly. Sakura vigorously pushed him back down.

"Just stop moving until I finish." Sakura continued hoarsely, her voice breaking slightly as she glared at him through her tears.

Naruto was silent for a moment. "Sakura-chan..?" He began, sounding unsure. "Are you okay? I mean-"

"Naruto. I'M FINE. I need to heal your hand. I need to...I.." She gulped. She looked down at Naruto, her eyes full of both relief and desperation. Naruto silently looked back at her emerald eyes. After a considerable time have passed, they both opened their mouths to speak before being interrupted by a familiar voice.

"We'll kiss and make up later. Sakura, just stop the bleeding, we'll have to take him back to Konoha and operate on his arm." Tsunade joined them, earning a blush from Sakura that Naruto did not seem

to notice. Sakura hastily resumed healing, as she looked up at her sensei.

"Hokage-sama!" Sakura eyes brightened, seeing her former sensei in good shape. "You're alright? H-How...?"

"We'll talk later. We are going to take all the injured back to Konoha and those who need immediate attention will be take care of as soon as possible. The war may be over, but there is still things we need to take care of...among other things." She shifted her eyes toward Sasuke, who was too busy pretending none of them was there. "We'll have to take the troublemaker over there with us while we're at it." She nodded toward Sasuke who was lying on the ground couple feet away.

At the sound of the Hokage's voice, Sasuke shifted from where he sat, suddenly alert. He was watching them from where he was, hoping they'll magically forget he was there.

Great. Things are about to get difficult for him.

One by one, the former rookie nine and most of the Kage's of the other villages suddenly surrounded the two boys. Well, actually, surrounding Naruto. Being freed from the gengutsu they were put under, the shinobi's of the different villages slowly began to register to what happened. It didn't take them long to put the pieces together that Sasuke and Naruto had fought here. Sasuke tried to keep still and ignore them. Unlike Naruto, he didn't want any of their attention nor will he welcome it.

Naruto and Sakura had almost forgotten about Sasuke. Before they could say something, three shinobi swept past them, wearing cloaks with akatsuki symbols on them.

Team Taka had arrived. They silently watched them, as Karin seemed to be pulling her sleeves back, trying to heal Sasuke with her chakra. Kakashi who was standing nearby watching, walked up to the group.

"Not to interrupt, but Sasuke will have to come with us." Kakashi proclaimed, his eyes settling on Sasuke who was watching him warily. Karin started to protest, but Suigetsu held her back.

Sasuke tried not to roll his eyes. He knew was this was going to happen. He would not be let off that easily. And he didn't expect them to. Konoha isn't as forgiving as everyone assumes them to be. Not that he cared, Sasuke didn't want anything to do with Konoha anymore. However, it seemed that Kakashi isn't letting him off the hook that easily. Nor is the Hokage. He distantly remembered Kakashi being present when Sasuke claimed to wanting to start a revolution.

How fucking annoying, he thought, before he eventually blacked out from the blood loss.

xxx

"Little brother... Little brother, it's time to wake up. Little brother! Haven't you brought enough shame to the Uchiha, brother?"

Shit! Sasuke shot up from his sleep, panting heavily. He winced as he leaned onto his hand, forgetting that he lost an arm. Growling, he flipped the strands of hair that slipped in front of his eyes with his other hand, as he tried to calm the hell down.

He always had these nightmares ever since witnessing his clan massacred. His brother constantly trying to tell him something that he never seemed to get. He thought that maybe after finally reaching a closure with his older brother, Itachi, they would finally stop.

What do you still want from me? He rubbed his chin, frustrated and annoyed. "A-Ano.."

A timid voice interrupted his thoughts that rattled him into a state of alertness. His sharp eyes swiftly

swept the room, toward the unknown presence he did not surprisingly notice. How could he not notice someone in the room until now? He was losing his touch.

"What?" Sasuke snarled, locating his intruder. "Who are you?"

A long purple-haired girl wearing a nurse outfit was staring at him anxiously from the foot of his bed. She looked familiar...

"H-Hinata Hyuuga." She squeaked, introducing herself. "Sakura-chan told me to change...your bandages." She explained.

Sakura? Realization struck him. So he was in a hospital. Huh. Sasuke glanced at the bandages she was clinging onto in her pale hands. The girl moved shyly toward him, without meeting his eyes. He frowned, but didn't complain when she hesitatingly came near him.

Hyuuga? He remembered hearing that name before. It was back during the chunin exams. Some powerful clan or something. He recalled that his father used to collaborate with the clan.

Hinata slowly removed the bandage around his hand, as she tossed them away in the trash bin beside the bed. She began applying the ointment she brought with her. Her tiny fingers grazed his skin, as she gently applied the cream onto his hand. Sasuke silently stared at his hand...well where his hand used to be. He lips curled in disgust, as he looked at away. He had received numerous battle wounds before, and they never bothered him. Receiving them was no disgrace, he could show off his scars as proof of battle. Not receiving them on the other hand, showed that no one was able to land a hit on him. Looking at his wound in dismay, he tried to focus his gaze something more appealing. He raised his eyes toward the girl in front of him.

"How long was I out?" He asked.

"F-For a..." Hinata spluttered, her tiny voice no louder than a whisper. She had jumped at little at his voice, surprised that the silent Uchiha was trying to hold a conversation with her.

"What?!" Sasuke snapped, impatiently. "Speak up." "A..w-week." She squeaked out.

Sasuke raised his eyebrows, shocked. He was out one whole week? In a hospital, nonetheless, by the looks of it. He was surprised that he wasn't thrown in a jail cell yet or locked up in some dungeon. After all he have done to this village, he probably deserved it. Naruto would probably wouldn't like it, but seeing that he isn't even a jounin, he wouldn't have much influence on that decision.

This is not good. He needed to leave this hell hole. He knew that he wasn't welcome here. And besides, he played his part in the war, it's time to finally move on and break his ties with this village if he were to really start over. He no longer had anything to avenge for. He is the last of his clan and after his last conversation with Itachi and the previous Hokages, he gave up on his revenge. Not to mention his fight with Naruto made him realize that he was better off abandoning his plans he was going to execute. It really was time for him to go.

Hinata stared at the Uchiha silently. After finishing taping his hand, she was about to let go of his hand before remembering the outburst of pain that shot through his face as he leaned on his hand when he woke up. She had entered the room while he was still asleep like she always has for the past week, hoping that he wouldn't wake while she replaced his bandages, but her luck ran out today. She held his hand between her finger gently, before setting it down on the bed, besides his long legs. Sasuke watched her half-amused, distracted by his thoughts.

She was about to get up and leave when Sasuke's voice halted her.

"Where is Naruto?" He asked, curiously. Sasuke has always been really quiet back when they were in the academy. Hinata never attempted to befriend him, but she remembered how stoic and distant he was. Today, he was being very upfront and it made her uneasy.

"H-He is on a m-mission, I think. " Hinata stuttered. Sasuke frowned, lost deep in his thoughts again.

Hinata stood beside the bed, unsure. Should she leave? Of course she should. He probably didn't want her around. And she didn't want to be around him either. He frightened her. It made her wonder what Sakura and the other girls saw in him that she could not. His cold eyes look menacing and his glare could scare anyone away.

Suddenly Sasuke snapped back into reality, discovering Hinata still standing in front of him. He gave her one his glares that frightened her to her core.

"What are you still doing here?" He snarled. "You did your job, now go." Hinata fled the room.

Naruto hopped to a nearby branch as he looked down from of the tall trees he was perched at. His target was approaching from the left side, oblivious that he was being followed this whole time. A couple trees back Shikamaru signaled Naruto to finally subdue the target. Naruto grinned excitedly, jumping on top of his target as Shikamaru simultaneously disabled the man's movements with his shadow jutsu.

"Yata! I got you now!" Naruto exclaimed, as he knocked the man out with his own weight. "Naruto he can't move now, get off him." Shikamaru pointed out, he eyes drooping lazily, clearly unimpressed by Naruto.

Getting up, Naruto grabbed the man and set him over his shoulder. The man helplessly could not fight back, as he was immobilized.

"We'll have to head back to the village, I can't keep him under my jutsu for so long." Shikamaru explained to his slow comrade.

"Alright! We can finally go back! I'm starving. The first thing I'm going to do is visit Ichiraku." Naruto declared, as he began to walk.

Shikamaru rolled his eyes, following him.

Sakura stood in front of her desk, holding a clipboard in her hands. Her pink hair was tied back in a ponytail and she was wearing her standard long white coat, proper attire for a medic ninja. Her lips twitched nervously as she read over the nurse's reports of Sasuke's condition.

They were able to heal Naruto and restore his health back to prime shape. It did help that he still held some of the kyuubi's chakra in him. As soon as he was given the okay, he quickly began taking on missions, trying to move up the ranks. The thought that he was still the only genin from the rookie nine was too much for him to handle.

However, Sasuke was a different case. He didn't have the quick health recovery that Naruto possessed, not to mention that he had lost all his chakra in him. And unlike Naruto, his hand did not grow back. He was left with one hand and they could not find a way to restore it. Even the great Tsunade was not able to come up with a solution.

She felt nervous. She didn't want to have to tell him that he could not perform any jutsu's now that he didn't possess two hands. Sasuke lived for fighting. He was a true ninja to the core. She knew him, he would not take what she was going to say lightly.

She had spoken to Hinata, one of the nurses who were assigned to Sasuke. The poor girl reported to her and ran off as quickly as she came. Apparently Sasuke had finally woken up.

Walking out of her clinical room, she headed toward Sasuke's room. She bit her lip. Knocking gently, she entered the room.

"DO YOU GUYS NOT UNDERSTAND WHEN I SAY I WANT TO BE LEFT ALONE?" Sasuke growled.

"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura jumped at the sound of his voice. He was sitting up on his bed, sweat dripping from his forehead.

"You! What do you want?" Sasuke sneered, clearly not happy to see her. "I came to check up on you and-"

"I'm fine. Leave."He interrupted, rudely.

Sakura frowned. He really haven't change. "You need to listen to your health report first." "Whatever. I don't care."

"How's your hand?" She began, walking toward him. She sat in the chair next to his bed. Sasuke watched her impassively.

"Hurt's like a bitch. Why'd you care?" Sasuke retorted. "Where's Naruto?"

"He should be returning from a mission soon." Sakura replied. His concern for Naruto's whereabouts cheered her slightly. "Um, Sasuke are you okay? Do you feel light-headed? You did lose a lot of blood" She reached to lay her hand against his forehead.

Sasuke jolted backwards before her fingers touched his skin. "I'm fine."

Hurt, she retracted back into her chair. She was used to Sasuke treating her like an annoying pest, but somehow she thought he would have changed now. She clung onto the fact that after everything they have been through, he would revert into the Sasuke before his clan was massacred. It seemed that his attitude only changed toward Naruto.

"Sasuke, I got your health report." She said, assessing his reaction. "Do you want to hear it?" "Just get it over with." He replied, disinterested.

"Well, when we brought you back from the battlefield. We infused chakra into your system to speed up your healing. The cuts all over your body healed, although there is probably signs of scarring." Sasuke grunted. She continue after a beat. "And we gave you blood to replenish the amount you lost. You had a fever too, but that was taken care of."

"And my hand?" He pressed, looking at her questionably.

Of course he wanted to know about his hand. That was probably the only thing he cared about. "We were fortunately able to seal off the bleeding, but..." Sakura trailed off, unsure to whether she should tell him the rest seeing that the expression on his face was turning somewhat murderous. "SHIT." Sasuke groaned, already figuring out what she was going to say. He stared at his hand that

was loosely laying beside him, eyes filled with disgust. "You can heal Naruto's hand perfectly, but not mine?" He sneered, peering at her accusingly.

"I-It's not that simple! I-"

"Don't bother explaining to that prideful idiot." The Hokage interjected. She had slipped into the room without them noticing, as they were too busy arguing. Hinata stood nervously behind her.

Glancing at Tsunade, Sasuke scowled darkly.

Strolling toward them with stutter girl trailing behind, Tsunade stood beside a now standing Sakura. "Well this may not appease you, but you lost one of your hands." She repeated, evaluating his reaction.

No shit Sherlock.

"Lacking Naruto's amazing healing abilities, it could not be saved. Not to mention we can't play god and grow back your arm."

"So even your healing "talents" has their limitations" Sasuke taunted, trying to offend the Hokage, only to fail when she ignored him.

"If I had it my way, I would have left you with one hand. I wouldn't have to worry about you doing anything stupid." Sasuke still had his sharingan. He didn't really need his hands to kick anyone's ass. It did leave him a bit handicap but not helpless. Still, it bugged him that he might give off a expression that he was weak to his enemies.

"What do you mean if you had it your way?" Sasuke's interest perked slightly at her last statement. "It means that we might, with a tiny bit of chance, have a way to bring your hand back if you cooperate." Tsunade explained, emphasizing her last words.

"I thought you rather have me defenseless with one hand?" Sasuke snorted.

"I'm not a idiot, brat. I know it wouldn't leave you completely vulnerable." Tsunade remarked, sarcastically . "But I don't think that blond idiot friend of yours would like it."

Naruto.

Where was that idiot anyways?

"How are you going to bring my hand back?"

At that question, stutter girl from behind the Hokage quietly straightened up and peered at Sasuke anxiously, before her white eyes darted away.

"The Hyuuga have talents with chakra control. We were thinking that if she was able to use her byakugan and gentle fist, she can paralyze your arm for a second, while we infuse chakra into your chakra points in hopes of growing it back. We never attempted this before, so it might not work." The Hokage concluded.

So it was a win-lose situation. If there was a chance, he was going to take it. If they are going to lock him up, he didn't want to be locked up looking like a handicap. The Uchiha's clan will not be dropped to this level of pity.

"When do we start?" Sasuke asked.

Naruto burst inside the Hokage building and into the Hokage room. Shikamaru trailed behind. "Haven't you heard of knocking, Naruto?" Shikamaru complained. He didn't want to sit through another lecture with the Hokage because of Naruto. He just wanted to wrap everything up, report to the Hokage about their mission, and go home. Maybe even grab a bite with Choji.

"Huh? Where's the old hag?" Naruto announced, peering inside the empty room. A swift of wind blew and Kakashi stood beside them in the room.

"Kakashi-Sensei!"

"Yo." Kakashi slipped his hands in his pockets. "How was the mission?" He looked at Shikamaru. "Tiresome. But we completed it." Shikamaru reported. Can he leave now?

As if he read his mind, Kakashi gave him a nod of apporval, and he left without another word. "So where is everyone?" Naruto continued, after Shikamaru departed.

"Tsunade is visiting Sasuke." Kakashi revealed, watching Naruto's reaction. At Sasuke's name, Naruto's expression grew grave. "He woke up?"

"Yes, he-"

Before he could finish, Naruto dashed out the door.

Bursting through the hospital's doors, Naruto ran inside. "Sakura-chan! Sakura-Chan!" His head poking into each of the rooms as he passed by.

Hinata was seated at the front desk, watching him with eyes wide open. "Um...Naruto-Kun you shouldn't yell in the hospital." Hinata finally spoke. Jerking at the sound of her voice, Naruto ran back to where she was sitting.

"Oh Hinata-san! I didn't see you there." Naruto brightened. "Did you see Sakura-chan anywhere?" Hinata nodded. "Ano..She is with Hokage-sama, they are talking to Sasuke."

"Sasuke?" Naruto scrunched his nose. "Teme. He really woke up?" "Hai."

"What room is he in anyway?"

"I was told that n-no one is allowed i-"

"Oh come on! Hinata-san, please tell me." Naruto leaned toward her, his eyes pleading. "We're friends, aren't we? I just want to talk to that bastard."

Hinata blushed, feeling her face getting hotter by the second. Naruto-kun's face was only centimeters away.

If Naruto was able to see how embarrassing this situation was for Hinata, he ignored it.

"He is being prepared for surgery. We are trying to get his h-hand back. I don't think it would be a good idea for you to be...there." Hinata explained, losing confidence at looking him in the eye. Naruto frowned, leaning back, looking clearly upset.

"His hand is gone?" He repeated, his eyes looking far away.

Naruto-kun never really explicitly expressed his feelings for his friend Sasuke, but he really did care about him, Hinata noted. It made her upset to see Naruto worried.

"D-Don't worry, Naruto-kun." Hinata tried to cheer him up, seeing his pained expression made her heart hurt. "Hokage-sama found his way to b-bring his hand back. "

Naruto jerked his eyes back toward her, earning her another blush. "Really?" He exclaimed. "So-"

"Hinata-chan! It's time!" Sakura poked her pink head out of one of the rooms in the back. "Naruto? What are you doing here?" She asked warily, noticing him.

"Sakura-chan!" Naruto brightened, Hinata once again being left in the dark from his attention. It was fleeting moment between them, but still made her happy to have talked to him. Of course, Sakura is who Naruto really wanted to see.

"Oh I don't think so." Sakura stopped him in his tracks. "You. Leave." She pointed toward the doors. "Oh come on, Sakura-chan. " Naruto complained. "I just want to see-"

"No." "But-" "NO."

Naruto pouted, clearly losing the argument. Or maybe there wasn't a chance for him to win it anyways.

Upset, he trudged toward the doors, mumbling under his breath. I just wanted to see how Sasuke was doing. Hinata heard him say. "Naruto?"

Naruto spun around to look at Sakura. "I'll come by your place later and fill you in, okay?" Naruto smiled, looking like he was about to break into a dance. Hinata's heart tightened, watching them. She felt out of place, like she was a third-wheel to a relationship.

Naruto soon left and Hinata followed behind Sakura. She'll have to ignore her broken heart and focus on her new current problem for now. Sasuke. She did agree to follow through with this recovery plan for him. She knew that Sasuke was important to Naruto and it just felt wrong to refuse help. She didn't consider, however, how heartless and scary he was.

After the war was over and all the shinobi's returned to their villages, the first thing the Hokage ordered was to hold funerals for all the Konoha lives that have been lost. For sometime after the war,

life resumed. People were still shell-shocked and left with horrible memories of the war. It was difficult for everyone to get over to what happened. No one imagined to live the day where their lives would have been so close to be taken away from them and replaced with a life in a genjutsu forever. No one even considered that a Uchiha would be responsible for all this terror. When Tsunade ordered Sasuke to be taken back to the village and healed, a uproar of complaint echoed within the shinobi's. Despite that, he was brought back and his life was saved. Hinata couldn't believe it herself. How could Tsunade welcome back a traitor, a member of the Uchiha clan who was responsible for the war and the cause of her cousin, Neji, to be taken away from her? Upon seeing Sasuke, she thought she would hate him. But she was too tired to hate. She saw too many of it during the war. She just wanted to move on and hope everything would resume to how it was. It still didn't change the fact that she disliked Sasuke. She didn't know him personally, but his disappearance had caused Naruto so much pain and she disliked him for it.

Looking at him sleeping, she noticed a side to him that she didn't see when he wasn't looking at her like he was going to bite her head off. They had performed the surgery and wrapped his arm in a cast. Tsunade has said that in time his hand should be back to how it was. They had drugged him into sleep after the operation so he'd rest. Tsunade left her in charge to watch over him, in case he ran away or did something "stupid".

Sighing softly, Hinata sat the foot of the bed where he was resting. Looking down at her hands in her lap, she closed her eyes. She was tired. The surgery had taken considerable amount of her chakra, not to mention how tired she was from working all day. She had promised Kiba and Shino that she'd find time to go out and train with them, but alas. She had to stay behind and guard a stranger she felt uncomfortable around with.

"This is so stupid", She sighed. "What is?"

"Eeep!" Hinata yelped, jumping up off the bed and crashing into the chair beside the bed. The chair flipped from her weight, as she toppled onto it. Her hand quickly slapped across her mouth from shrieking too loudly, quickly reminding herself that she was in a hospital.

Sasuke was lying on the bed, his head against his pillow, watching her quietly. He was probably too stunned to say anything after her humiliating reaction.

Trying to regain her footing, Hinata straightened up. She felt her face heating at her embarrassing reaction. She was so deeply engrossed in her thoughts that she momentarily forgot where she was. And on whose bed she was sitting on.

"Gomen, I..um...you surprised me and..." She quickly tried to explain herself, her tiny voice trailing off, unsure what else to say.

Sasuke shifted upright, sitting up on the bed, ignoring her apology. He reached for his injured hand, and started removing the bandages.

"Oh wait, you shouldn't-" Hinata began to protest. "Shut up." Sasuke's glare silenced her.

Unwrapping the bandages, he let them slip onto to the floor as he examined his hand.

After a unbearable and stressful operation, Hinata was able to restore his hand to it's normal state. It took somewhat a toll on her chakra, but it worked. Earning a look of respect and shock of her capabilities from Sakura and the Hokage, Hinata at that moment felt utterly pleased of her accomplishment.

A small smile slipped past Sasuke's lips, as he flipped his hand back and forth. The smile looked usual on his face.

"Well, I guess I don't have to worry about this anymore and can focus on..." His voice trailed off.

"Never mind." He finally said.

Hinata couldn't help but ask, "What do you mean?" She peered at him curiously. Sasuke didn't answer her.

He smirked. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see her biting her fingers as she nervously tried to figure out what he said. Ever since he woke up, this girl has been around him frequently. He thought she would end up like one of those pesky fangirls of his, but it seemed like his presence gave her the opposite effect. She was afraid of him, and he knew it. He was surprised that she offered to help him heal his hand. Which reminds him, she healed his hand. It must have taken a toll on her body. Sasuke wasn't the type to be indebted to anyone, but he was also not the type to go around thanking people.

The stutter girl peeped at him, her heading leaning to the side, awaiting his response. Her long purple hair was sticking up in some places, her hair in terrible need of brushing.

She looks like a curious kitty, Sasuke thought, innocently.

Sasuke quickly pushed that thought away, displeased and stunned with himself. He didn't even know where it came from.

"Where is everyone?"

Hinata looked at him, sensing the subject change, but didn't comment.

"T-They went back. I was put on g-guard duty." She stammered, timidly looking at his eyes before moving them back toward her feet.

So no one is around but her. Perfect.

Getting up, Sasuke slid off the bed and slipped his bare feet into his shoes that we were lying on the ground beside the bed.

Hinata watched him carefully, until her expression changed as she registered what he was doing. Or, what he was planning on doing.

"Y-You can't leave. You n-need to rest, Sasuke-san." She whimpered, moving to stand in front of him. Did she really think she could stop him? Now that his hand is back, Sasuke knew that his next stop was in Konoha's prison. He rather die then spend the rest of his life in Konoha. In a jail cell no less. It is better for Konoha AND for him to leave this place for good.

Sasuke stood on his feet, staring at the frightened girl few inches away from him. Her chest was raising up and down, in anticipation of what he was planning to do.

He was a couple of inchrs taller than her., he noted. She nervously looked up at him, as she tried to muster up her strength to block him. She raised one of her hands, turning on her byakugan. It made him almost laugh at her efforts.

"Move." "N-no." "Move."

"I won't let you leave." Hinata scrunched up her nose, looking at him in defiance.

More like a fighting kitty.

Shit.

"I'm not going to ask you again." Sasuke said sternly, looking at her with his hard eyes. Hinata kept her stance, meeting his eyes with utmost determination.

Sasuke sighed. He didn't think she was going to be that difficult. He didn't even know why he was asking her to move. He could easily subdue her and get it over with. But the fact that she is looking at him defiantly, actually thinking she had a shot at stopping him admittedly impressed him. Usually girls her age would worship every command he wanted. This one was different. She feared him but it did not waver her resolve at stopping him and executing her mission. She was a interesting girl,

unlike some other foolish girls he knew.

He stepped closer toward the girl, enjoying seeing her eyes widen as she tried to squirm away from him. Eventually her back was against the wall, trapped. Sasuke gave her one of his sadistic smiles.

"This will hurt only a little." He whispered, his breath blowing on her soft skin, taking notice of the smell of lavender coming from the girl. Before she was able to react, Sasuke quickly lodged his fingers against her neck, a technique he learned from his father, knocking her unconscious. Softly, he caught the girl before her head reached the ground. Holding her in his arms bridal style, he walked toward the bed where he was previously sleeping in. He laid her down, her long purple hair spreading across the pillow. Sasuke glanced at her for a second, before turning away.

Stepping back, Sasuke looked around for his clothes. Finding them in a bag tossed aside, he quickly changed as he planned out his escape. He needed to leave before anyone came in and caught him escaping. He needed a head start because as soon as they find out he's gone, he knew the annoying ANBU's will be on his trail.

Sliding the window open, Sasuke was welcomed with a blast of moist air. It had begun to drizzle outside. Before jumping out, Sasuke looked back at the innocent girl who was unfortunate enough to guard him.

"Sorry, Kitty."

He jumped out.

"What do you mean he's gone? Why wasn't I informed of this earlier?" Tsunade snapped. She threw the bottle of sake she was holding over her shoulders, glaring at them. Her eyes finally landing on Hinata.

"Hey, don't yell at Hinata! It wasn't her fault." Naruto retorted, in defense of Hinata. "You know Sasuke is no match for her!"

Hinata, unable to say anything, looked at her feet, disappointed in herself. How could she allow this to happen? She let everyone down. Even though Naruto would never admit it, he was upset that she let him get away. The fact that he was defending her right now, despite that, made her feel a million times worse.

"Naruto." Sakura warned, who was standing next to the Hokage, looking at Naruto in disapproval. "It's okay, Sakura-chan." Hinata finally spoke. She was tired of seeing everyone defending her and treating her like some little girl. "Hokage-sama is right. I failed my mission."

"But-"

"Hokage-sama please let me fix this." Hinata interjected, her eyes focused on the Hokage. "I would like to join the search party and look for Sasuke-san." Hinata begged. She was going to fix her mistake. It was her fault that she let him escape. And after everything Naruto did to bring him back...

She looked at the Hokage with pleading eyes.

Tsunade looked measurably at the Hyuuga's face. As a potential heiress to her clan, Tsunade knew how much it meant to the girl to impress her father. A simple mission like this and to fail...it would not leave a good impression on her strength to the clan, despite the fact that she was guarding the infamous Sasuke.

"Fine." She agreed. Besides, her byakugan would be very useful.

How long has it been since he was home? Sasuke could not even remember, the last time he came to

Konoha was to resurrect the previous kages. He did not have the time for nostalgia. Flipping back the hood from the cloak he "took" from a oblivious stranger on the streets in order to disguise himself, he stepped in his Uchiha district. The rain had stopped, the rays of moonlight filling the sky. It was night time, the only light creeping into this darkness of the night was from the full moon.

Nothing have changed. It was still quiet and empty as before. The only difference is that some of the buildings were destroyed and in rubble. Sasuke recalled that the akatsuki had attacked the village when he was not here.

He didn't even know why he was still in Konoha. He should have been miles away from this place already and yet...

He could not leave until he paid his respects to his deceased clan. It was possibly the last time he'll be in this village.

Turning the corner, silently jumping over boulders of rocks, he headed toward the memorial where his ancestors rested.

"Where did Sasuke go?" Naruto grumbled, kicking leaves as he walked toward his home. Tsunade had sternly warned him not to go after Sasuke despite his complaints. Fearing her wrath and Sakura's, he decided he might as well home. Maybe he should go to Ichiraku...

"Naruto!"

Naruto stopped in his tracks. He turned around and was surprised to see Sakura running toward him, panting.

He raised his eyebrows, "Sakura-chan?"

"I-I told you..."She panted, her hands on her knees, as she tried to catch her breath. She exhaled. Looking up at him, her face transformed into a glare. "Didn't I tell you I wanted to talk to you later?" She reminded him in annoyance.

Oh, yeah...

"Sorry." Naruto apologized, grinning sheepishly. Sakura paused, looking at him before settling on,"Idiot."

"So what did you want to tell me?" Naruto asked, as they resumed walking.

"I was going to tell you about Sasuke's condition, but..." Sakura started. Naruto now knew all the details. So what did she want from? Which reminds him...

"How come you didn't join the search party to look for Sasuke?" Sakura almost tripped on her feet. Naruto blinked at her reaction. He watched her from the corner of his eye, awaiting her response.

"You know...why." She finally mumbled sadly, looking at her feet as she walked. He knows?

"What?" Naruto leaned his head to the side, confused.

Her pink lips stretched into a thin line, as she regarded him impatiently.

"Remember?! Last time..?" She snapped, her limit finally reached. "I tried stopping him before when we were young. He was leaving the village. He didn't listen to me, so why would he now?" She concluded in anger.

"Oh".

Naruto was so used to being around Sakura without Sasuke that he forgot that she loved Sasuke. He remembered promising her to bring Sasuke back and he did. But now, yet again, he ran away from them.

They continued walking in silence. The atmosphere between them was tense and filled with

unanswered questions.

They somehow ended up in front of Ichiraku.

"Do you want to join me for a bite?" Naruto asked hesitantly, finally breaking the silence. "They make the best ramen in town. I promise you, since I am their number one customer!" He declared triumphantly.

"I know they do!" Sakura rolled her eyes. "I ate here lots of times before with you, you idiot." "Okay then! Let's go!" Naruto reached to grab one of her hands and pulled along a shocked Sakura. "W-wait- "She began, ready to scold him for holding her hand before giving up. She was upset that Sasuke left and couldn't stop stressing over his whereabouts all day. When she was with Naruto, she instantly forgot about Sasuke. Even though she felt guilty somehow, it was relieving. His warm hand clutched her hand tightly as the entered the shop, before removing it as he sat down at one of the stools. Looking at his stupid face as he ordered a bowl of ramen, Sakura reluctantly sat next to him. She did not want to admit it, but she enjoyed being around him.