This is officially the longest chapter of Gone! I would have totally had this earlier but when I wrote it down on my journal, it seemed like it was a lot. Then when I typed it, it was a really short chapter so I knew I had to write more. Then I kept on writing and I didn't stop so it got kind of long.

Also, I have to say, I was sort of disappointed with the number of reviews for the last chapter. :(

Please ignore any grammatical mistakes!

Disclaimer: Itachi is awesome. End of story. …also I don't own Naruto.

Thoughts

Recap:

"All I ever wanted was for you to acknowledge me so that you wouldn't think I'm just a weak, annoying burden, but no matter what I try, I can't." Sakura sobbed. She tried to wipe the traitorous tears away but it was no use, more took the place of the ones she would get rid of.

Unwillingly, Sakura began crying uncontrollably. That was the night that Haruno Sakura finally broke her strong façade. At first, it was because she was finally letting all of her emotions free, but then it was just anger. All this time, she had acted strong in front of him so that he wouldn't think so low of her and in a matter of seconds, it was all falling apart.

Sasuke sat watching the fragile-looking girl weep not knowing what to do. He wasn't used to this sort of stuff.

"I'm so weak, aren't I?" Sakura choked out.

On a whim, Sasuke hugged the broken, depressed kunoichi. "Real strength comes from being able to admit one's flaws. That is your real strength-your real self Sakura."

End of Recap.

When had this happened? How had she done it? These questions were all a mystery to him. Uchiha Sasuke was completely and utterly confused as to how Sakura had now become an important, inseparable part of his life. It had all started as a game- a test to see who would break first. Now, here was Sakura crying in his arms, but then, why did he feel like he was the one that had lost?

Even now, he didn't get it but in a weird way, he sort of did; he just didn't want to admit it even to himself. Anyway, one thing was for sure, it was something that was changing his life, but in a way, nothing was changing at all for this feeling had always been within him buried deep down. Yes, it was weird. The kind of weird that could happen to anyone, but he couldn't help but be surprised that it had happened to him now, when he least expected it.

Sasuke kept telling himself that he didn't have any feeling s for the kunoichi. He couldn't have any feelings toward her. Rather, he didn't want to because he had suffered too much in the past because of the bonds he once held. But his heart was betraying him. Reforming bonds that were irrevocable. Was it love? He had to admit, he acknowledged her strength and she wasn't bad looking either but was that enough to be called love?

He became angry, not with Sakura but at himself. When had he let his guard down? Why had he? For so long, he had worked on shutting people out so that he wouldn't feel anything. Now, his past was catching up to him. Haruno Sakura was changing him unknowingly.

The confused Uchiha looked down at Sakura whom he had unconsciously embraced to comfort. Tears were beginning to dampen his shirt as they fell from her emerald eyes and he couldn't help but feel that he was at fault for the years that he had caused her pain.

'I tried to be strong all this time for you.' Sakura's words rang through his head. 'Why? I didn't ask her to.' Sasuke disputed.

Not wanting to get carried away, Sasuke softly pushed Sakura away from his chest. Sakura looked at him as if pleading him to stay with her. Silently, Sasuke stood up and went inside Tazuna's house, leaving Sakura alone. Tired, Sakura followed soon afterward only to lay awake in bed trying to sort through her thoughts and feelings.

From then, Sasuke and Sakura were no longer to avoid themselves or be as cold to each other as they had previously been. Things were changing for them. Slowly but surely, they were becoming accustomed to each other and they were allowing the other to slip into their well protected heart. The day had started like any other. Sakura, having slept late at night, had slept in accidentally. Knowing that the enemy would not attack so early, Kakashi decided to let her sleep in and just guard Tazuna while he made some modifications to the bridge along with Sasuke and Naruto.

"Wow! The Great Naruto Bridge?" Naruto awed as he learned the name of the bridge he had guarded while it was built. He had to admit, he felt great knowing that once he was gone, he would be remembered through this bridge.

Time passed it was almost noon and nothing had yet occurred. The male members of Squad Seven were beginning to think the guy who had attacked them the day before had been part of the attack group Tazuna had warned them about and that once he had seen their strength had reconsidered attacking. It truly seemed that way until…

Thud! "Well, well if it isn't the brats from yesterday. Except, you are missing the pink-haired bitch. Oh wait! Here she is!" Takeo said with a smirk on his face.

As he said his last sentence, he pulled on a rope and from behind him Sakura came tumbling down, eyes bandaged unable to see, hands and feet tied, and mouth tied making her unable to yell for help.

"I captured your teammate. Now, surrender the bridge builder to us or this brat gets it." 'Not that she will survive anyway.' Takeo thought to himself the last part of his plan.

Kakashi, Naruto, and Sasuke looked at him surprised. When had they captured Sakura? Where there more of his allies hiding, surrounding them? They all got on their guards.

"Don't you care what happens to her? I suppose you won't mind if I do this then!" The ninja walked toward Sakura and grabbed her by the hair. Sakura let out an inaudible moan of pain. Takeo unsheathed his katana and placed it dangerously close to the defenseless kunoichi.

The members of Team Seven Didn't know what didn't know what to do. What could they do? It was either Sakura their teammate or Tazuna the bridge builder.

"What will it be?" Takeo demanded to know as the blade began to pierce Sakura's skin. He grew impatient. "I guess you don't care about her!" he exclaimed as he slashed through Sakura's neck. The lifeless body fell numbly to the ground. Poof!

"What!"

Out from the shadows, the real Sakura came out with a chakra infused fist. "Take this!" Sakura yelled as her fist made impact with the man who could have killed her.

"Sakura! You're okay! But how?" Naruto yelled happily in the distance running toward her.

"Hn." Sasuke smirked as if he had seen this coming all along. He knew that Sakura wasn't as weak as to let the enemy capture her.

"Phew!" Kakashi said relieved that a comrade did not just meet her end.

Flashback:

"Yawn! Hm…?" Sakura looked around the house. On the table, she found a note addressed to her.

Sakura, we didn't want to awake you since you looked so peaceful. Your team went to the bridge along with Tazuna. Inari and I are going to town to run a few errands. Feel free to help yourself with whatever you need.

~Tsunami

Sakura sweat-dropped. 'I can't believe I overslept.' Putting the note away, Sakura went to gather her things in order to go meet her team at the bridge.

She suddenly heard some voices outside. She listened quietly.

"So this is the house you say?" a familiar voice said.

"Yeah." Another masculine voice answered. "The daughter and grandson should be in there. We will use them as bait. Now hurry up and go get them."

"Right."

Sakura looked outside through a small peephole in the window's curtain. Immediately, she recognized Takeo, but the other man remained a mystery to her. 'They are here for Inari and Tsunami.' Sakura thought. 'I need a plan. I have to figure out what they are really after.' With a determined look on her face, Sakura made some hand signs and created a clone of herself. Instantly, she masked her chakra so that only the clone's chakra would be noticeable.

"Go act like you don't know anything and get caught. I'll follow close by and hopefully find out some useful information," Sakura quietly instructed. Quietly, she hid herself in a pile of junk.

Sakura's clone went into the kitchen for a snack, acting like she knew nothing at all like she had been instructed. She grabbed a glass of juice. Soon afterwards, Takeo appeared mere inches away from the Sakura clone with his katana unsheathed and pointing it precariously at her.

The clone stared at the intruder wide-eyed. She dropped the glass of juice she had held on one hand to seem more surprised. Slowly, she took a few steps back as if trying to run away.

"Don't move bitch unless you have a death wish," he ordered.

Obediently, the clone complied. Takeo took a along rope and tied Sakura's hands. Then, covered her eyes and mouth. Once finished Takeo dragged the Sakura clone behind him.

"Boss, I got something better than the lady or kid. I got the kunoichi who killed Satoshi. Surely, her teammates will trade the bridge builder who means nothing to them for their teammate."

"Hm…" The mystery man merely observed as if strategizing.

After that, the real Sakura followed them from the shadows, hoping to hear something of value, but they didn't say anything worth her time.

End of flashback

Sakura suddenly felt a powerful chakra behind her. It felt like the chakra of the other guy but much more deadly.

"I knew it was too easy for the girl to be capture especially if she is to be called a kunoichi of the Leaf, but I guess the idiot didn't realize it," he said referring to Takeo. "Figures that if you want t a job well done, you have to do it yourself."

Sakura turned around to come face to face with her opponent whom she had failed to realize had gotten so close to her. Before she had time to move away from him, she felt the man hit one of her pressure points and her body to fell numb. The man's well-built arm made contact with her chest with so much force that she was sent flying off the bridge and she fell into the deep water.

"Sasuke, Naruto! Be on guard. This guys is on a whole other level than the other," Kakashi warned as he saw him easily get rid of Sakura. "Naruto go help Sakura. Sasuke you help m…" Kakashi wasn't able to finish when Sasuke ran past his team and dove into the water after Sakura.

Meanwhile, little by little, Sakura was sinking deeper and she was losing her breath. Feeling numb, she was unable to swim up. She was expecting Naruto to rush after her, but she was surprised to see Sasuke swimming after her. Somehow, fate was pitting them together at every change it got and they weren't able to stop it.

Her vision began to blur gradually to the point that she didn't notice when Sasuke had gotten so close to her until he felt his arm go around her waist and pull her out of the water. Once out, she gasped for air as she clasped to Sasuke's shirt for fear that she would once again fall in.

Sasuke swam out of the vast waters while holding on to Sakura's petite waist. When they were on top of the bridge again instead of under it, he set Sakura down and looked toward the direction in which Naruto and Kakashi were fighting.

Sakura looked in that direction also. Nostalgia overwhelmed her as she remembered the last time they had been here. Last time, she hadn't helped much and it would be the same this time. Nothing had changed, it appeared to her. She looked at Sasuke. 'Any moment he will go make himself useful and I'll be the only useless one.'

Sasuke saw the look on her face full of pity and anger at the same time so, contrary to her believes, Sasuke took a seat beside Sakura and just watched the other two shinobi fight.

"Aren't you going to help them?" Sakura question him.

"Hn. The guys is dealing with the copy ninja Kakashi and Naruto who was trained by one of the Legendary Sannin. I doubt they will need help," Sasuke explained reluctantly. He turned away from her and tried to avoid even glancing at her. He didn't want what had happened yesterday to come up.

Having Sasuke by her side, she immediately didn't feel so useless. What he had said was true. Besides, she had already helped some. It was strange; she felt comforted by his presence but she didn't want to say anything to him. She felt like she couldn't especially with what had happened the day before.

Yes, Sasuke and Sakura were both trying to deny the feelings that were beginning to resurface. They thought that by avoiding talking about it, they would go away, but they would eventually understand how wrong they were.

They examined the fight. Blow after blow, jutsu after jutsu, Kakashi and Naruto fought on. Time passed and before they knew it, they won the battle. (A/N: I'm really sorry but I didn't want to have a feeble attempt at a fight scene so I just decided to skip. Sorry.)

A few days had passed since the fight. Things seemed to be going pretty smoothly for the land of Waves. Team Seven had arrived at the conclusion that they were no longer needed so they had decided to head home for much needed rest.

Nobody said much on the way home partly because they were tired and partly because they didn't have anything to say. Before they knew it, they arrived at the village gates late one evening. Without delay, Kakashi said that he needed to make a report to Tsunade about the mission. Naruto began to say how he wanted some Ramen and invited Sakura and Sasuke to tag along. They both declined the offer. Sasuke said that he wanted to go home to rest and Sakura lectured him on how eating Ramen all the time wasn't good for any of them.

Indignantly, Naruto walked off to get his Ramen hoping to meet up with a certain somebody along the way.

That left Sasuke and Sakura. They walked quietly to the Uchiha compound side by side. The walk there was awkward for both wanted to say something but had nothing to say. Rather, they had things to say but they didn't want to say them for fear of showing too much emotions. Even the Uchiha, who thought he could always keep his cool demeanor, wasn't sure about it this time.

"Sasuke, about the other night…" Sakura said almost inaudibly. She finally got the courage to talk about it as they were going inside the house. Even if she hated to admit it, she had to face reality eventually. She was afraid; afraid of loving Sasuke again and being rejected but she couldn't just keep this to herself. There was also that possibility that he would once again leave to find his brother Itachi and forget all about her.

"Hn. Nothing of importance occurred. Forget it ever happened," Sasuke said coldly.

"I meant it!" Sakura said more audibly. Her eyes shone brightly as if she was hoping that he would finally admit to her that he actually cared. "I-"

She was cut off by Sasuke. "I said forget it," he growled. He didn't want to talk about. He didn't want to think about it. He was afraid that the feelings he had felt that night would resurface. Those feeling that he was trying to erase. The truth was that the ice surrounding his heart was beginning to melt away by the warmth Sakura was offering him. He didn't want that. Not now.

"But-"

Sakura wasn't able to finish talking when Sasuke walked off on her and went to his room shutting the door behind him.

As Naruto walked through the streets of the Leaf Village, his eyes wondered all around. To be accurate, he was trying to spot a certain lavender eyed, shy girl. It was difficult for him to explain, especially since he could be so dense and naïve sometimes, but when he was around this particular girl, he felt comfortable, like he belonged with her.

Tired and hungry, Naruto headed to Ichiraku's Ramen Shop hoping to see her along the way. He was about to reach his favorite food place and he still hadn't spotted her. Yet, he felt like she was close. He looked around. Up. Down. Right. Left. Until he spotted the all too familiar chakra masked sloppily as if its owner was trying to be seen.

"Hi Hinata!" Naruto smiled widely as he ran toward her.

Hinata blushed. "Na-Naruto, I heard you were back," She managed to choke out without stuttering much as she saw the blond running toward her.

"Hey want to go get some Ramen with me?" he asked eager for a yes.

Hinata gulped. "Well…" She looked around as if she was trying to hide from someone. "Sure," she finally answered, a smile forming on her lips.

On the way, both Naruto and Hinata were silent. It wasn't the kind of silence that was uncomfortable though. It was a comforting silence in which they found peace and just appreciated each other's company.

Once they arrived, Naruto began the conversation. "Guess what? There's a bridge named after me! The Great Naruto Bridge!" Naruto boasted as he waited for his Ramen to be served.

"That's great Naruto," she said happily. She was cheerful, glad to be with the one she admired even if it was just for a little bit. She couldn't afford to let her father find her with Naruto.

All through the meal, Naruto told her about their mission and about how he had fought the shinobi whom threatened the Land of Waves but was now safe because of him. Hinata, on the other hand, just listened intently. Little by little, her admiration toward him growing if at all possible.

"So Hinata how's your team? Kiba and Shino?" Naruto asked.

"We haven't been to busy lately. Kurenai Sensei spends most of her time resting so that her son will be healthy when he is born," Hinata explained. "Because of that, our team doesn't get many missions and when we do, they aren't too difficult since we don't have Sensei with us."

"You should come with us on a mission!" Naruto suggested.

Hinata grew pale at the though. She thought of Sasuke, the Uchiha prodigy. There was no way she could ever keep up with him or Naruto she thought. Even Sakura had become a lot stronger and she didn't know how she compared to her. To be safe, she would just rather not get tangled with Squad Seven and just stay with her Squad.

It was really late when Naruto and Hinata were leaving Ichiraku's place. Time flew by so fast when they were together talking about missions, dreams, or just plain nonsense.

On the way home, Naruto was going to walk Hinata home but he abruptly remembered the last time he had done so. Hyuuga Hiashi had not approved. To avoid any conflicts, Naruto decided to part their own ways half way through.

"Hinata?" Naruto called her attention looking down instead of at her.

"Yes? Naruto?" she responded.

"Goodnight," he said softly as he lightly kissed her on the forehead and ran off toward his house.

Hinata stood immobile for some time. She was shocked at what had just happened. It had all happened so fast and her mind was still trying to register what had happened. She fell back dazed. This was all too much for her. She wanted to pass out, but she couldn't just lay there in the dark so she had to muster all of energy to at least make it home.

The next day Sakura awoke extra early. She had been called the night before by Tsunade to inform her that she would be resuming her job at the hospital once again. Not wanting to go on an empty stomach, she had awoken earlier than need be so she would have time to have some breakfast.

As she was finishing preparing the dishes, out of the corner of her eyes she saw Sasuke making his way to the kitchen. Remembering about the conversation, if it could even be considered that, she tried to go back to acting tough and cold like him. There was no use in being nice to him if he was going to be the same way toward her anyway.

"I made some breakfast. Feel free to help yourself." Sakura said stoically.

"Not hungry," Sasuke said matching her coldness toward him.

"That's weird because usually when people come to the kitchen, it's to eat." Sakura retorted.

Sasuke was at a lack of words. She was right. The only reason he had said that was because he was trying to avoid Sakura and coming to the kitchen had been the wrong way to go. He had realized she was in there too late.

"If you are going to act like a jerk, I better be on my way," Sakura told him coldly. She wrapped her plate of food and put it in the refrigerator. On her way out the door, Sakura tried to give him a cold look to show him that she was still as strong as ever and that he wasn't that important to her, but her eyes betrayed her. For they were filled with sorrow and rejection.

Work was a drag. It was a slow day at the Konoha Hospital. Nothing much happened and there wasn't much to do. Sakura was stuck in her little office most of the day so she began to move things around to suit her needs.

"Well, well the rumors are true. You are working here again, Forehead," Ino greeted as she let herself in.

"What do you want Ino pig?" Sakura said without much emotion.

"Just here to check on you. Hope you are settling in fine. How's your dainty little office? Does it meet your standards, oh great one?" Ino taunted playfully.

Sakura rolled her eyes. Did it really matter what she thought?

"So how's living with the Great Uchiha? I've heard quite a few nasty rumors. One of them being that you two have already gotten busy. Here you were saying you hated him but now it seems otherwise," she said, meaning that rumors about them sleeping together were circulating around Konoha. Ino smirked. "So is it true?"

"What? No!" Sakura couldn't help but blush a little. She couldn't believe such gossip was going around.

"You know you can tell me the truth. That's what friends are for," Ino said persuasively trying to learn some secrets.

Sakura merely glared daggers at her. She couldn't believe she was actually trying to get her to say otherwise.

The door to the room opened unexpectedly and Tsunade walked in. "Ino, I need to talk to Sakura for a moment alone," she said.

"Sure. I was just leaving," Ino lied as she walked out.

"So how are things going with you and Sasuke?" the Hokage inquired as soon as Ino was out of hearing.

Sakura felt offended. She couldn't believe that even her teacher was thinking so low of her. She was about to protest when Tsunade began to speak again.

"Did you two get in a fight or something?"

"Why do you ask that?" Sakura asked trying to sound indifferently.

"He came to my office earlier demanding that I end your punishment so that you can leave his house," she informed the pink haired kunoichi.

Sakura's eyes went wide. Betrayal and rejection written all over them. She couldn't believe that Sasuke was going as far as trying to get her out. Here she was thinking that they were making some progress, but this took them back to square one again. "I don't know why he would do such a thing." Sakura's voice was low as if trying to hide all emotion trying to escape from her.

"Are you sure you don't know?" Tsunade asked once again hoping that Sakura would actually give her a good answer this time.

"No."

*Sigh* "Both of you know full well that you are stuck together until the month's end. There's nothing else I can do or you will be imprisoned once again for betraying Konoha. I'm sorry."

"I know," Sakura said looking at the floor. Too many emotions were evident in her eyes for her to look up at her teacher.

"Well, I just wanted to know what was going on, but if you won't tell me. I can't do anything to try to help you out. I just wish you would trust me once more Sakura," Tsunade told Sakura as she left.

When her time in the hospital came to an end, Sakura dreaded going back to the Uchiha household. She wanted to barge in and demand to know what his problem was. At the same time, another part of her was afraid to even go for fear of being ridiculed by Sasuke.

Knowing she had to go there eventually, she made her way there. One thing was on her mind. She was going to end it all once and for all.

As soon as she was at the Uchiha household, she noticed that Sasuke was nowhere in sight. He was probably out training, Sakura assumed. Without wasting time, she header for the room she kept her belongings in and began to pack them away.

It was late evening and still Sasuke was not home. That was all she was waiting for; him. To say her good-bye. Her final good-bye for she would be imprisoned for leaving his house before her time was up.

Finally, she heard the door creak open and Sasuke come in. She stood up from the chair she had been sitting on and headed toward the door. Their eyes met. Both so empty yet so full of emotions.

"I'm leaving," Sakura said shortly.

Sasuke merely stood motionless and looked at her uncaringly.

"I know that's what you want. The Hokage told me that you went to see her."

Silence.

"I know that if I leave I will be imprisoned once again but it's better than being here. At least in jail, I won't have to put up you and you will be free. You won't have to deal with me because I know that I'm just a burden to you. That's all I ever was. I realize, you never felt anything toward me." Her voice began to quiver at the end.

Trying to avoid breaking down, Sakura grabbed her bag and headed to the door. She was about to open the door and walk out when she felt Sasuke mere inches from her. His left hand forcing the door to shut close and his right had on Sakura's wrist to prevent her from leaving.

"I'm sorry," Sasuke said. "I don't know what I was thinking earlier. Don't go." Sasuke pleaded although it sounded more like a command. His breath sending goose bumps down Sakura's skin due to his proximity.

"I know you don't feel anything toward me so why? There is no reason for me to stay," Sakura reasoned. She turned around to come face to face with the last Uchiha. Her eyes were full of sadness and she felt like they were getting watery. What she saw in Sasuke's eyes surprised her.

Unlike before, his eyes were no longer the cold emotionless ones she knew. No, they were full of sadness like hers. Fear of forming bonds and once again losing them. Yes, it was fear. Underneath the tough guy act was a boy who was frightened due to the gloomy past that haunted him. For the first time in years, Uchiha Sasuke was allowing someone into his heart. The bonds he had first formed when he first became a part of Squad Seven were showing up once more.

*Sigh* I'm not quite satisfied with this chapter…but I hope you at least think is decent.

Anyway, I need your opinion! Is the Sasuke/Sakura relationship going to fast? Too slow? Just right?

Also I'm running out of ideas for SasuSaku moments, any suggestions? They can be for the upcoming chapter or later on the story.

If you have any questions about what has happened up until now, go ahead and ask me and I'll get back to you as soon as possible.

Please review and tell me what you think.