A/N: -.-'

Chapter 6: Part 1

Oazukarishimasu

Sakura shuffled her eyes open, squinting it as the large amount of sunlight went through her window. Yawning groggily and stretching her arms, she lazily paddled her feet as her toes touched the floor, before it settled there, flat.

Momentarily fixing her bed and glancing at the clock, she smiled softly as her memory returned to the younger boy who was sleeping into the next room.

It had been a month since his and her short reunion on the forest ensued, and it did not occur to her to tell the younger Uchiha what had happened; after all, who knows might what his reaction might be...? Impossibly that it would bring any beneficiary advantages, she decided to keep her mouth shut and keep it as long as it takes.

Striding with lazy steps, she found her way into the corridor and into the boy's front door. Raising her right hand until it reached her face, she knocked on the door.

"Sasuke-kun, Wake up."

No response.

She sighed, but nonetheless repeated her actions ago earlier, "Sasuke-kun, Sasuke-kun!"

Still no response.

Figuring that words could do nothing, she let her other hand encircle the knob. Turning it slightly as it creaked, she let her eye peak towards the room, and towards his bed. Her eyes widened slightly before she opened the door fully, finding a small note placed on top of his bed instead of him.

"Sasu...ke.." She almost laughed as how hopeless and pathetic that small whisper was. Her small smile a while ago turned into a worried frown as she picked the small piece of paper and raised it on eye level until she can fully understand the words.

Sakura-nee-chan,

As you may read this, you might already been worrying about me. No, don't do that.

I woke up early this day, because... I thought that we should at least spend some time together, and I concluded that the perfect day would be...today.

Meet me at Ichiraku at nine. I'll be there.

Sasuke Uchiha.

She ran her fingers on her hair as she breathed a sigh of relief, placing the small note on one of her pockets. Turning slightly to see the clock, she smiled. She had one hour left. Sufficient enough... She mulled, getting back towards her own room.

Getting all the things ready, her worries and fears felt as it was washed slightly.

Who knew...Sasuke was so sweet?

But she was just wrong.

"...No...He was still weak...not enough to scratch you."

Her angered voice rang through his head for the past month as if there was a radio inside his head. He couldn't...why was Itachi there...? Why didn't Sakura fight him, nor let alone defend herself from him?

What was she doing?

He shook his head mentally before glaring at his fan-girling team mate who was clinging to his arm and grinning from ear to ear. "Wanna go out Sasuke-kun...? I mean, it." She purred his name, seductively, "...I'll treat you from anywhere you want, whether it was Ichiraku, that dango shop...where do you want?"

"...Hn."

"Or do you want to go to my house later?" She battled her eyelashes, "My parents would surely like to see my boyfriend anytime!" She squealed, giving of a small giggle as she clung to his arm tighter.

Sasuke's glare did not waver before it settled completely on the girl, as it turned crimson. "...Izumi."

"Hai?" She giggled more, expecting a quick 'yes'.

"Leave me alone." His tone had changed into a colder and more dangerous one, before simply prying her off of him and walking casually away.

Unfortunately, the girl did not just know when to stop, "Sa-Sasuke-kun, w-wait!"

A sound of kunai being drawn drifted in the air as the single tomoe of Sharingan flashed. Izumi instinctively led a hand towards a cheek, sniffling a soft sob as she felt a warm liquid drip from her cheek towards her chin.

"Sa..Suke..Kun...?"

Crimson eyes narrowed as it flashed dangerously, "I told you. Leave me alone."

The girl froze before crying pathetically as she ran away, wailing ferociously. Sasuke sighed, resuming his straight forward walk towards Ichiraku.

"What a big waste of time..." He whispered, mostly to himself. His eyes returned to its onyx color as his gaze shifted towards the ground, flashing as he remembered the Chunnin exams.

Oro...Orochimaru was his name, he was sure of it. That man bit him on the neck and gave him a strange tattoo, which lasted damned hurtful for a few days.

-Half a month ago-

My neck pounded as it stung like it was being burnt. It was like my flesh was being eaten away slowly, and no one was there to support me. Izumi had been standing away, looking at me as if I was some kind of a ghost. She just froze there, pale as a sheep. How pathetic.

I grabbed a trunk of a tree, leaning for support as the reddening tattoo stung my skin harder with each every second. If Sakura-nee-san was there...she could probably remove this agony...But she wasn't here.

She shouldn't be here. I'm on my own.

At least, I should be independent for a time.

But I can't hold on any longer...My breathing hitched as I felt the pain robbing my every breath. I felt pieces of splintered wood against my fingers as I squeezed it tight. I was so sure that this would be the end...

I haven't even killed the man I swore to kill...Damn it.

I winced pathetically as my half-lidded eyes stared into the yellow object hanging from an oak tree, pinned by a kunai. The sun had completely set and I can still see the neon color dangling like a cloth hanged to dry.

It was that Naruto-dobe...who protected me. How could he even...How? How could he defeat that man, while I cannot?! I...I...I'm so damn weak.

My eyes momentarily shifted to Izumi. She fainted. If I was the given the chance, I would kill her first of all the people I know.

My vision started to blur as it closed completely and I felt the pain subside...The end, huh? Was it this...? But, Sakura-nee-chan...

...

...

...

"Sasuke-kun?"

...

...

...

I had heard that voice before...Heaven was it?

The feeling was still the same as in living, with the exception of feeling pain pressed against everywhere in my body. I heard someone recite my name all over again, and the only thing I could reply with was a small whimper.

"Sasuke-kun..." That voice.

After a few seconds of building the puzzles together, I tried to lift a single finger...I haven't found anything this hard to do something like this in my life...except restraining my patience to kill that dobe. In time, I could finally move my hand as I opened my eyes slightly, after proceeding to breathe a single deep breath as if submerged in water for a long time.

"You're awake!"

I tried to sit up as I heard a feminine voice recite my name all over and over again, getting louder by every yell . I hastily blocked my view by an arm as the light coming from a large, wooden window serried the whole of my vision. When my eyes had adjusted completely after a few seconds, the first thing I saw was a single daisy placed inside a simple, glass vase.

My eyes squinted as my head snapped back in realization, coming face-to-face with her. Her face was scrunched up with intense worry, and I could almost see tears in her clouded emerald eyes threatening to fall, which I doubt she would allow.

I saw her pale lips turn in to a wry smile as a single tear found her way falling into her cheek, as all of them followed and she broke down, wrapping her arms around me as she sniffled violently. My eyes stung— I never wanted to see her like this...so fragile, so weak...and I cursed as the only thing, which had always marred her like this, was only me and him.

I closed my eyes as I bit my lower lip to prevent myself from crying as well, returning her comforting embrace, and nothing was heard inside the room except her soft sobs.

My heart ached...If I only hadn't been this weak, none of this would ever have happened.

She let go of me as her sobbing ceased, but as I turn my head, this time, more clearly, I could see her face.

Her eyes had bags under it, and her eyes had been rimmed red from excessive crying.

I gritted my teeth as I asked shakily, "...Nee-chan...?"

"...Sasuke-kun. Did you know how much you had gotten me worried?"

I had barely heard the question in between soft tone and muffled voice.

"...I'm sorry." I bowed my head in shame, I couldn't look at her. I was so drowned in shame...I still needed her help, after all.

"No," I could feel her shake, "...there's nothing to apologize for Sasuke-kun."

As I stared up at her, my brows furrowed. "The chuunin exams...I failed, right? And what about my teammates...? They have been hurt because of me! If I hadn't been so weak on the end...If I hadn't been so powerless...You wouldn't be worrying about me...If...If...I...Itachi wouldn't be able to kill them! I...I..." As I continued to berate myself, I hadn't realized, in that time, that I had been crying.

My tears hadn't stopped, I can't stop it...another weakness, I told myself.

"Don't blame yourself for something which had not been your fault entirely." I heard her chide reproachfully, "...Crying would the best way to help you solve it if you find yourself being alone."

She had been grinning, "Crying is a strength, Sasuke-kun."

I tilted my head as I found the courage to look at her, my eyes continued to spill tears as I looked up at her in complete confusion. "Your team mates are alright, ANBU had found them with my help." She sighed, "Chuunin exams had been cancelled due to a demand that a certain nin had secretly found his way inside, I've been told that...He's in search for something."

"And..." she continued, "...You're not the only one who suffers at their loss."

I nodded as she pressed her thin lips against my forehead, "I won't be protected next time...You would never worried about me, I would be strong!" I vowed, "I would always protect you, nee-chan."

"Hai!"

In that time, I did the lie of my life.

How the hell would I become strong?

I swore, this time, that that would be the promise I could ever keep, and, I had decided, that it was the only thing I could ever thank her. I would do anything to achieve it— even it meant selling my whole soul and body to the devil.

And I found something that I could possibly start with, the nin she had mentioned. Orochimaru...

"If you want power...come to me."

"Sasuke-kun?"

The younger boy's head snapped back as he heard the oh-so-familiar voice, call his name. He responded, voice still warm with surprise, "...Nee-chan?"

Sakura's ministrations were correct; the boy was indeed in his own world, his primary reason why he did not respond as she had called his name for the fourteenth time already. "Are you alright?"

"Y-yes, I am." Sasuke finally murmured.

Sakura's gaze went to something rather contemplative, before shrugging it off mentally and reaching to ruffle the younger boy's raven hair—a gesture of comfort that she had developed over the years on their mutual relationship.

"Ichiraku..." She motioned, "Right, Sasuke-kun?"

"Ye-yes, what about it?" Sasuke replied throatily.

Sakura's eyes hardened as she straightened, her crimson yukata swaying slightly, "The venue you told me...are you sure you're alright?"

She continued, "We're here."

Onyx eyes widened in realization, "O-oh yeah, come on, Sakura, I'll treat you."

Sakura followed suit at the boy who entered the store a second later, aware by the name he had just addressed her for the first time they had ever met.

"The boy would come to us soon," A slithery chuckle, "And he would be my next vessel."

A certain oto-nin push his glasses to the bridge of his nose, "That would be compromising, Orochimaru-sama."

The reddish light coming from a small fire flickered against the whole room, the wax coming from the candle decreasing with each every second.

"If I can't have the brother, then I'll have the younger one," Orochimaru rose from his seat, eyes silted perfectly.

"The sharingan would still be mine in the end..."

Chapter 6: Part 2:

Shibumi

Hatake Kakashi had just have to been perverted.

His name, the Copy-ninja, had been heard throughout every village there is in the shinobi world, known for having the infamous Uchiha clan's doujutsu without being one, the sharingan. Having to kill his best friend, he had gained its ultimate form, called the mangekyou— which can transfer any objected into another dimension whenever he had wanted.

For a price, of course.

His eyes were deteriorating painfully slow, and he had yet to rationalize it to its youngest successor, Uchiha Sasuke.

He sighed slightly, his gloved hand reached for his pocket, and there, he could feel his ever-been-loved hobby. Grabbing it as he lifted it up, he flipped the pages as his masked cheek turned bright red while he hummed quietly.

"DAMN IT, KAKASHI!" Tsunade roared, "WERE YOU LISTENING!?"

Kakashi took a single peek above the white pages towards the hokage, then back to the book once again. "Hai. Hai."

Tsunade sighed, "Well, go on. Report."

"Uchiha Itachi had been sighted near the border of the land of fire," He stated firmly, "Haruno Sakura had a confrontation with him, luckily Itachi had not took any chances of hurting her." He paused as he passed through a nice part on the book, "...And I had Sasuke with me."

The blonde hokage gestured for him to continue. "I had to restrain him from lunging at his brother...it was really hard." He sighed, "I had to knock him off at the end."

"I see." Tsunade affirmed, "Where was the last time you had seen him?"

"We had to leave earlier. His partner, Hoshigaki Kisame, had been sighted across from us. He might have sensed our chakra at the close distance, And..." His jaw tightened, "That was the last time I had seen them."

Tsunade folded her fingers as her lips turned into a wry line, "What are you doing in there anyway?"

Kakashi froze as he rubbed the back of his neck, "...Ahehe...Well, you see...Sakura-san was...bathing and yeah...and I was training Sasuke...Ahahahaha..."

Veins popped out of the Hokage's forehead, "Just get out of here, you pervert!"

Kakashi nodded hastily as he practically ran towards the door, slamming it shut behind him.

"Are you sure you're alright?"

"...Aa."

Sakura throatily sighed, "What seems to be the matter, Sasuke-kun?"

Sasuke's fist closed against the chop sticks as he gritted his teeth, "What seems to be the matter, Nee-chan?" he echoed rashly, "...Why did you lie?!"

Emerald eyes widened in confusion, "...Wh-What—

"Stop that...!" He hissed, slamming the table with the both of his hands, "Why did you not tell me...! It's been a month, you know! Am I too weak for you not to tell that Itachi had been on this village?!"

The both of them were being stared by villagers, and the Uchiha did not give a single damn about it.

"...Sasuke-kun...I..."

The younger boy's jaw tightened, "...Did you not trust me?"

Sakura shook her head silently, paid their bill, and then grabbed the younger boy's arm, leading him outside.

"What now?"

"...Let's go home. We should to about this there, not here." Bangs covered her face.

"You know, Sakura, if you're being too shy about this...let them here it. There's nothing to be hidden anyway," The younger boy retaliated, pulling his arm back, "Now, tell me the—

"Let's go home, Sasuke!"

Sasuke hang his head low in complete silence as her tears dripped towards her chin. "You just don't know...how much it hurts to see the both of you residing in a deathly conflict," She sniffled as she shook her head, grabbing the boys arm shakily, "...to see you drown in complete hatred as you swore with every minute that you thirst to gain power and strength to kill someone you once had loved..."

Her fingers stretched in to a seal as the both of them disappeared into smoke, "...you just don't know how much."

At the living room at Sakura's apartment, they had arrived. For a minute they were silent, before the young Uchiha broke the unbearable silence.

"...Explain."

Sakura's rimmed red eyes narrowed as she shook, her head bent as she embraced herself, "Itachi...d-did came here...And I met him..."

"H-He just asked me...how the both of us had been..." Her teeth clenched, "...Most L-likely, a part o-of his plans for y-you..."

The Uchiha gave a small sound of an apology before wrapping his arms around her, "...Why didn't you fight back...?" He asked, voice barely a whisper.

"..." She sobbed even more, removing his arms around her as she rushed towards her room, locking it as she slammed it shut. Sasuke could just stare.

He clenched his jaw tight—the simplicity of it was simply eloquent...He knew that it was inevitable in that time, that Itachi and her had created a bond that was hard to break...and she had still cared for his brother...even a single bit.

Her kind heart and emotions just had been also on the way; conscience had still been on the part of that bond that kept it still alive. In the end, he had to be the one to do it alone...because she couldn't do it herself after all.

Every promise in killing him together was nothing more but a white lie—partly true, partly false. She would, of course, train him to become stronger without driving himself into hatred, but...still she couldn't use her own strength to hurt that man...

It was just him, alone.

Tonight, four people Orochimaru sent would be coming to Konoha, ready to ask him whether he had finally decided.

To leave Konoha or not.

At first, he knew, that they knew that they would have to force the hell out of him whether he had to willingly come or not. Of course, it had been a hundred percent no, but after all the events that had just ensued...

Would he just leave the bond that he had created with his so-called sister? Just leave and turn sides against with her...?

His head ached as well as his heart, none of the choices were upbringing...and he could not just decide this with all of himself...he needed his nee-chan. He always had did, whenever decisions had to come, she had always been on his side. And then, and then...he would just leave her for him...?

If he was to go back after he had accomplished his lifelong goal, would she still accept him for choosing hatred over love?

This was just too much...too much...

He prodded himself with a soft sigh, sandaled foot proceeding towards his own room. As soon as he reached it, the first thing he knew was to bury his face unto his pillow. The bed groaned as it supported extra weight, and then he closed his eyes.

It still wasn't the time to sleep yet—it was just sun set.

He had always admired the view placed against his large window, his bed beside the wall it was placed. Here he can see the birds chirping freely, and the mountain where faces of the past and present Konoha hokages had been sculptured into.

After the sun set was the time he had always hated.

The moon had always reminded of him of the time when his older brother killed his clan, and he had always turned his head away from the torture. It was so hard to accept...that it had to been natural...however barely had halfway to have reason for existence.

As soon as he had closed his eyes, his senses drifted off to her. This was the first time in the four years that they were living with each other that he had not been greeted by a 'good night' ,and , it felt that something was missing.

His eyes clenched shut as it stung, tears threatening to fall. The only times he had ever remembered crying was the massacre, and that little conversation between him and Sakura after she had found him after the chuunin exams.

This would be the last time.

His eyes clouded as warm liquid drip through his cheek and unto the pillows. He just watched as his tears spilled and darkened the naturally white color of the sheet, his face remained straight.

"Crying is a strength, Sasuke-kun."

His head snapped back, as if he had heard her voice clear as if it really had been there. But, it soon disappeared when he once acknowledged it.

"...You were crying?"

She really was here...?

His pupils moved into the corner of his eyes, as he stared at the door...she really was here.

She was wearing nothing but a mesh top and black shorts, her foot was bare. Her eyes were red, and her hair was spilled unruly against her shoulders and nearly into her waist.

He nearly stiffened as she began to walk towards him, and then stopped when she was a foot away. "...Sasuke-kun, I..."

"I'm sorry."

His eyes remained glued into her face. "...I came here to tell you what really had happened between of me...and Ita—him."

She walked wobbly as she sat on the edge of the bed, "...I just couldn't tell you...because...I was afraid that you would have hated him more."

He held regret in his eyes as he replied softly, "...Hn...Mostly likely...That bastar—

As he remembered what she had just said, he decided not to continue.

"Itachi...and I had just had a small conversation...the reason why I did not fought back...was...was..." Her gaze lingered on the orange sun, "...I can't do it after all, Sasuke-kun...I couldn't hurt him...My conscience is still there, hoping that someday," She closed her eyes, "He would say that his reason for killing them was not only because of power, alone."

Sasuke bent his head, mulling. "I understand."

His head snapped back as he felt another body heat pressed against him, "I still care for him, Sasuke-kun," she admitted, "...and I hope that you won't hate me for it."

In a silent response, he nodded, "I won't."

She smiled as she settled her body against the bed, stifling a soft yawn, "Can I sleep with you tonight, Sasuke-kun?"

He gave a small chuckle, responding almost too excitedly, "Of course."

She pulled his head so that it was resting against her chest, wrapping his legs with her own, her chin on top of his head. Sasuke had been facing the window, and for the first time, he had seen it for just a minute, and had appreciated its bright light.

"...Don't go anywhere away from me, alright?"

Sasuke almost gaped at shock, but soon dispersed it as soon once he had thought of it, he would keep this moment as a treasure, a treasure that would have always had to be kept, "...I'll always be with you..."

She chuckled as she closed her eyes, readying for a good night's sleep.

He felt her even breathing as she relaxed and followed suit, closing his eyes for a deep slumber.

The morning would bring something new, he urged himself, even if it would have to bring something horrible, he would accept it...As long as he was with her.

He smiled. "And..."

He looked up, yawning slightly.

"...Good night."

A/N: -.-

SasuSaku, isn't it? No, no, it's wholly itasaku...Of course there still wouldn't be fluffs, I'm just in the 6th chapter, you know! Ehem, anyway...Itasaku fluffs would be soon, I just don't want to rush it just like that...something I had always been doing, just like their past.

And I've gotten reviews saying that I've been rushing...well, to put it that way, I've wanted to focus mainly on the future (ex. Sakura 17, Sasuke 12, etc.) not on the past. The past story line was just short, mainly 3 chapters...and I've skipped a whole month of them -.-

So sorry...

So, 4000 words, OMG, this was the far most the longest chapter I had written. Meh, I didn't quite update for a long time and it's just natural...

Itachi would be in the next chapter, don't worry. Man, I can't really stand his hotness. Still no Itasaku fluffs, I think. Bad news.

Orochi-kun would play a big part, sorry for the haters and yay for the lovers.

Alright, I think that's too much for me...I'll see you next time.

P.S. I'm not good at shadow forging T.T