Mine

Mine

Chapter 8: Running


"What the hell do you think you're doing to me you fucking bastard?" Naruto demanded.

"N-Naruto," Sasuke said stupidly, unable to say anymore as he looked at Naruto. Naruto was still breathing heavily from his sharingan-induced orgasm. Nonetheless, his eyes were completely focused on Sasuke, confusion, rage, betrayal, and blatant accusation in his glare. Any lust he had unknowingly felt had vanished. "I-I-" Sasuke couldn't speak, too mortified with himself to form words.

It was Naruto's fist to his face that finally snapped him out of his stupor.

"Asshole," Naruto hissed, and he took another swing at Sasuke. Sasuke blocked the fist and grabbed Naruto's wrist. He expected Naruto to wrench his hand away from him in disgust or anger, but Naruto merely stared at Sasuke, his eyes suddenly filled with so much pain that Sasuke nearly couldn't form the words that had sprung to his lips.

"I-I was going to explain, but time was running out," Sasuke supplied lamely. Naruto showed no reaction to these words. Sasuke never remembered feeling so idiotic before.

"Start explaining. Now," Naruto said, his voice barely audible. Sasuke swallowed, and began explaining to Naruto - and he explained everything. Sasuke stared into Naruto's eyes, his voice non-ceasing as he stood there, stark naked in front of Naruto, his eyes never daring to move his eyes from Naruto's. A part of him wanted to get dressed, somehow feeling that he had been the one violated underneath Naruto's gaze. Naruto wasn't moving despite still being naked, despite the obvious signs of their lovemaking – or rather, Sasuke's forced lovemaking – on Naruto's body. Sasuke explained how Tsunade had requested him for this mission. He explained how he had started to fall for Naruto, how he had messed up by not telling Naruto about his feelings sooner, how he had still continued to do his "mission" without telling Naruto after he and Sakura had married. And of course, he explained how Sakura had walked in on them. Naruto finally broke eye contact.

"So Sakura was trying to keep you away from me these past few weeks. That's what's been going on between the two of you," Naruto murmured.

"Yes," Sasuke said. Sasuke’s own face became impassive as he watched Naruto shut down. Naruto's face was as blank as Sasuke's, a feat Sasuke had never thought Naruto, ever so full of emotion, was capable of pulling off. Sasuke still had his hand loosely wrapped around Naruto's wrist, but Naruto turned his entire body from him and he gently pulled his arm away from Sasuke. Sasuke let Naruto's hand go from his grasp. Both were silent as Naruto mechanically found his clothes and dressed without looking at Sasuke. Sasuke stared at Naruto, watching his every movement, waiting for some sort of reaction. Waiting for the explosion. Waiting for anything.

But nothing came. Naruto was wordless. Expressionless. He didn't look at Sasuke, and Sasuke could feel his insides going cold. He would be an idiot not to realize that Naruto was hurting, that Naruto felt betrayed despite the impassive look on his normally expressive face.

"Naruto," Sasuke murmured, but Naruto made absolutely no sign that he had heard Sasuke at all. It was if Sasuke didn't exist. The cold feeling inside Sasuke grew, and he almost felt ready to panic. This was the absolute worst possible thing that he could have expected from Naruto. A complete and utter refusal to even acknowledge Sasuke's existence hurt him deeper than any words Naruto could have come up with. Naruto wasn't recognizing Sasuke, and that was something that he knew Naruto hated; Naruto always hated being ignored. Sasuke knew Naruto hated when others didn't recognize him, and he knew Naruto was purposefully making Sasuke feel as though he didn't exist.

Sasuke would even have been happy to hear Naruto say that he hated him just to know that he could invoke some sort of emotion, some sort of reaction from Naruto, but none come. Nothing. Blankness. An attempt to sever whatever relationship they had had. It was the first time that Naruto had done anything to indicate he didn’t want anything to do with Sasuke.

"Naruto, wait," Sasuke said as Naruto began to wordlessly exit his room, but Naruto neither slowed down nor sped up upon hearing Sasuke's request. Sasuke was halfway through his doorway before he realized he was still stark naked, and that he should dress before following Naruto. He dressed in record time, but Naruto had already vanished from the area. Sasuke swore, having a feeling he knew where Naruto might be headed.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

"So you assigned the mission for Sasuke?" Sakura asked while sipping tentatively at the cup of sake that Tsunade had given her at the beginning of her explanation. Tsunade nodded.

"I thought for sure that Sasuke would have used it to his advantage. I thought that there was some spark between Sasuke and Naruto before, and that it would have been an opportunity for Sasuke to finally admit his feelings for Naruto, and for Naruto to admit them back," Tsunade said, her words slurred as she downed her tenth cup of sake, her cheeks a bright, rosy hue. "I messed up. It was my worst decision as Hokage. I thought Sasuke would say something, but he hasn't. And I couldn't just - hiccup - tell him to tell Naruto because I don't trust that bastard enough. I think he would refuse, even under pain of death unless he got his way. Still, it's no real excuse. It really is my fault," Tsunade said miserably.

Sakura nodded, numbly absorbing the information Tsunade had presented her, finishing her first cup of sake.

"Yes, yes it was your fault that my husband has unknowingly suffered."

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

As soon as Naruto had left Sasuke's home he had dropped his expressionless mask, and let the tears flow freely. He couldn't believe it. He just couldn't believe how screwed up his life had become. Sasuke had been lying to him for three years - three fucking years - and Sasuke had hurt Sakura in the process!

Somewhere behind him, he thought he heard Sasuke calling his name, but Naruto sped up, hoping to make it to his destination without Sasuke seeing how much emotion he had invoked in him. He couldn't deal with Sasuke right now. He was too pissed. He was too emotional. He would do something stupid because he was so pissed. No, he was beyond pissed.

Naruto was utterly livid. He knew that Sasuke was following him, knew that he was saying something to him, but all Naruto saw was the blur of scenery before him in his rage. He had trusted Sasuke. Trusted him! The fucker – literally. What was he playing at? Was this some sort of sadistic game that he hadn't understood before? Was he just being toyed with? What did Sasuke mean by feelings? What nonsense was that?

And why hadn't he, Naruto, realized anything was amiss? Had he been that stupid?

He knew right away that Sasuke was able to have used his sharingan to make Naruto oblivious, and Naruto's rage was increased in that he hadn't been able to stop Sasuke from manipulating his mind. Naruto wanted to do nothing more than turn around and pummel Sasuke, beat him, hurt him, do something, but he feared the consequences of meeting those damnable eyes yet again. Feared that perhaps that there was nothing that Naruto could do to prevent Sasuke from utterly taking him over.

He couldn't say that he felt violated, not his body. He didn't feel dirty. His body had been abused and battered in what Naruto considered far worse ways from Sasuke before. A chidori powered hand through his chest versus a cock in his ass didn't phase him as much as it might with others. Naruto didn't feel violated. He didn't feel dirty.

He felt utterly humiliated and ashamed. His humiliation fueled his rage that he couldn't do anything. He felt ashamed because he had enjoyed what Sasuke had done to his body, but he pushed that thought to the side. That was a bit much for him to think about, and he was too pissed already. The feeling of helplessness was what made Naruto mad with fury. Naruto was not a helpless man, and he didn't like feeling that there was something he couldn't control. Long gone were the days when Naruto pretended that he was happy; long gone were the days that he had to force a smile to his face. His life had been just about everything that he had ever hoped for. At least, he had thought so. This flipped his happy world upside down. To think that he had been unknowingly lied to about something that Sasuke claimed to be so important had his body shaking in his fury.

All Naruto could do was run as fast as he could to the Hokage Tower, move as fast as he could to see Tsunade, demand answers from the hag, and demand to know why - if for some reason all of Sasuke's shit happened to be true - why, why the hell had no one told him? He was not fucking weak!

Naruto decided to use the main entrance for the Hokage tower, fearing he would break the glass if he entered from her window. He stormed passed everyone, and he was only partially aware of people calling out to him, asking him what was wrong or yelling at him not to be so violent in his complete focus to get to the Hokage's office as fast as possible.

The Hokage's office seemed to materialize in front of him he had gone so fast, and he slammed his fist heavily on the door, yelling and demanding entrance.

"Open this door your damnable old hag!" Naruto yelled, pounding his fist on the door as he did so. When the door did not open in the two seconds he waited, he slammed it open, only to double up in pain as something came flying at him from across the room, hitting him directly in the stomach. Naruto, caught unawares, stumbled backward back out of the door as he hit the floor on his ass. His eyes widened as his rant was stopped as he watched as Sakura was doing her best to beat Tsunade while an obviously drunk Tsunade was trying to throw things at her protégé to get the younger female off of her.

It was a dumbfounding scene to see Sakura having the upper hand over Tsunade. While Naruto watched, frozen to the spot, he saw that Tsunade had stopped moving, and was unable to throw anything else. Sakura had jumped on top of Tsunade, and started punching her in the face. Tsunade's nose was clearly within the first smash, and as Sakura's fist repeatedly punched into her face, blood spurted everywhere. Naruto's mind began to slowly catch up with him, and he realized that Sakura was actually yelling something at Tsunade. Naruto stood up, wincing as he clutching at his stomach where he had been hit by a random flying office object.

"You bitch! You liar! How could you? How could you do that to Naruto?" Sakura yelled angrily, her words slurred as tears ran down her face while sobs shook her body.

"Naruto!" Sasuke yelled from behind Naruto, stopping dead beside the blond, staring opened mouthed at the scene in front of him. He had clearly not been expecting to see Sakura beating Tsunade to death when he had chased after Naruto.

"Sakura!" Naruto finally said, his wits finally catching up with him at Sasuke’s appearance, and he ran forward and grabbed Sakura from around the middle, her fists still flying as Naruto yanked her off of Tsunade. She was sobbing hysterically, but when he put her on her feet, she seemed to realize he was there and she leaned weakly onto him.

"I'm so sorry," Sakura cried. Sasuke ran over to check on Tsunade, though it was obvious he would be unable to treat her medically, just surveying the damage.

"What happened in here?" Shizune gasped. "Tsunade-sama!" she said, racing over to Tsunade, her chakra already flowing to her hands as she began to heal Tsunade's wounds. Naruto gently patted Sakura's shoulder, feeling numb from everything. His rage was forgotten in his shock as he saw over Sakura's pink head of hair that Tsunade had seemed to be slipping in and out of consciousness.

Other people began filing in the room, and questions began to fly. Naruto watched as Sasuke remained mute when Shizune asked if Sakura had done it. She didn't bother asking Naruto or Sakura straight up. She seemed frustrated when he didn't respond, and Naruto growled when the ANBU that had filed in the room had told him he needed to release Sakura from his grasp. He would have fought, feeling the need to release his anger, but Sakura untangled herself from his grasp and walked with the ANBU out the door.

A few other ANBU ushered Naruto and Sasuke into a room that Naruto had never seen before that reminded him of some sort of holding cell - which he realized a few moments later it was. He and Sasuke were separated as the ANBU escorted Sasuke into an adjacent room. The ANBU that had ushered him in told him to sit down, and then he exited, slamming the door, telling him he would be back to question him about what had happened.

Naruto stared through the dim light towards the white wall in front of him. There was a table with two chairs, one on either side of the table. Doing as the ANBU told him, Naruto sat in one of the chairs, and put his head in his hands.

What the hell had all just happened? He wasn’t sure he would be any better at explaining the situation to the ANBU.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Tsunade, conscious after being tended to be Shizune, sat facing Sasuke in the room adjacent to the one that Naruto had been ushered into. Sasuke idly wondered why she had decided to talk to him instead of Naruto first. Sasuke saw that the bridge of her nose was bruised, but couldn't see any other damage while she was holding a tissue to her nose that was still leaking blood. It was obvious that she was drunk, and Sasuke could smell the strong stench of sake even sitting across from her.

"I explained things to Sakura," Tsunade said, her words slurred and nasal sounding. "She didn't take it too well." Well, Sasuke thought to himself, that’s why she told him first. He realized that she would have probably explained it to Naruto first except that she didn’t know that he had told Naruto.

"I explained things to Naruto. He didn't take it too well either," Sasuke murmured. Tsunade's eyes widened. She banged her hand on the table, making it collapse under her heavy touch. Sasuke pushed his feet on the floor and pushed himself backwards to avoid his legs being crushed.

"And who could blame him?" Tsunade said miserably. Sasuke didn't quite know what to say. He had never seen Tsunade so disorganized before. When he had been in Sound he had heard stories from both Kabuto and Orochimaru about Tsunade's past, and he knew that she didn't take well to losing people. He also had heard the first hand account from Kabuto about how Tsunade seemed to have drawn strength from Naruto when he had risked his life to save hers, and she had risen to the occasion by managing to get over her fear of blood. As he watched her hold her nose while it dripped blood, he would never have imagined her to be a hemophiliac.

"I-" Sasuke was cut off when the door to Sasuke's detainment room banged opened, followed by two ANBU members.

"What have you been able to glean from this suspect, Hokage-sama?" the first ANBU spoke. His face mask reminded Sasuke of a rat.

"What do you mean, ‘suspect?’" Tsunade asked thickly, her eyes narrowing, suddenly focused despite her drunken state. Sasuke stared at the ANBU, always hating how their masks hid their facial expressions.

"The suspect on the attempt on your life, of course." The ANBU's voice was so expressionless that Sasuke wondered if the face behind the mask would have shown any emotion change. Sasuke felt a strange distrust for him.

"Attempt on my life?" Tsunade asked incredulously. "What are you talking about?"

"It is obvious that Uzumaki Sakura attempted to kill you. The evidence is clear," the second ANBU spoke, his voice quiet, sounding a little more confused.

"There was no 'attempt on my life,'" Tsunade sneered. The first ANBU spoke again.

"Meaning no disrespect Hokage-sama, but you are quite drunk. It is also clear that Sakura-san had only had a little to drink so that really cannot be taken into account. Also, the way that she was attacking you suggests that you two were not training. If Naruto had not pulled her off of you, and Shizune had not been present, you would have drowned in your own blood from the way it was clogged in your throat. Your throat had been slightly crushed, and the thickness and the amount of blood would have killed you."

"I'm a medical ninja, I know how these things work!" Tsunade bellowed, angry at being talked down to. "And I tell you, it was not an attempt on my life!" Personally Sasuke disagreed, but he was sure that Sakura wouldn’t attempt it again. He could imagine her initial fury at finding out her master had lied to her, and had made her husband’s well being into a mission.

"Forgive me Tsunade-sama, but your affection for your former pupil, and the drunken state in which you were in during the ordeal clearly makes you unable to give an unbiased account of what happened. We are certain that Sakura-san made an attempt on your life, and we are only now trying to determine the motive. We believe it may have to do with trying to end your life in order to promote her husband, Uzumaki Naruto, as Hokage sooner-"

"Ridiculous!" Tsunade yelled.

"Naruto wasn't even there!" Sasuke yelled, standing up, feeling defiant that the ANBU would dare suggest such a thing. "He was with me, and the look on his face when he saw what was going on was complete and utter shock. No one could have faked that."

"Unless you are lying for both of them," the first ANBU said, his masked face tilting to the side to better sum up Sasuke. Sasuke fumed.

"If I had made an attempt on the Hokage's life, it wouldn't have failed," Sasuke said quietly, the room going chilled with his statement.

"Yes, we had calculated that into the mix. It was not your style, and we therefore ruled out that you were directly involved," the second ANBU said, and Sasuke was pleased to see that the second ANBU at least knew that Sasuke was a man to be feared.

"You're an asshole," Tsunade said, and Sasuke was bemused to see that she was glaring at him before her attentions were turned back to the two ANBU in the room. "You are under my jurisdiction, and the fact that you are not listening to me means that both of you can and will be dismissed from your duties."

The second ANBU shifted uncomfortable next to the first, but the first held his ground.

"We are trained in order to protect Konoha at all costs. Even from the Hokage if necessary - but in this case," the ANBU added hurriedly, "we believe we are protecting you, and therefore Konoha from an unnecessary upheaval. Even your aid Shizune says she thinks that there was something wrong. She heard the two of your arguing in your room before she entered. She said that she regrets not going in sooner, but she knew that the two of you tended to spar every now and then, and since she was unaware of your drunken state she believed you were capable of handling yourself," the ANBU said. His slight emotionless veneer dropped to sound distasteful upon the word drunk, making it clear that he didn't approve of Tsunade's drinking habits.

"Sakura and I had a minor disagreement. She is not a heavy drinker. It is not her fault that such little sake affected her so much," Tsunade said.

"A disagreement?" the second ANBU asked.

"Yes, a minor disagreement. Nothing that concerns you, and nothing that would indicate the brat - er - Uzumaki Naruto or this bastard here of being involved on any 'attempts' on my life," Tsunade assured.

"I don't believe that Sakura meant any harm," Sasuke said, knowing that while he and Sakura were not on the best of terms, she didn't deserve whatever these two twisted ANBU had in mind. He had no delusions that Sakura may have been trying to beat Tsunade into a miserable pulp, but intentionally killing her was counterproductive.

It was clear that something was up. How would Naruto and himself be involved in an attempt on Tsunade's life? It was clear that there were old biases here. Sasuke was sure it was a way to make sure that Naruto was cast in shadows for being the next Hokage. Sasuke frowned. With everything else that had been going on with his personal situation with Naruto, he had forgotten about Naruto's ambitions to become Hokage, and he had also forgotten about the ridiculous biases against him for being the jinchuuriki for the Kyuubi.

"If it was such a minor disagreement, and her reaction was so violent, we can be assured that she is dangerous."

Sasuke darted out of the way as the table fragments went flying at the two ANBU, Tsunade's bellow of rage and the contortion of utter anger on her face finally allowing Sasuke to see why she was the Hokage. She really wasn't a woman to mess with, and he gave Sakura credit for having guts to attempt pummeling Tsunade into the ground, even while drunk.

The two ANBU wouldn't be ANBU if they hadn't dodged the flying table fragments, but Tsunade wasn't about to let them go unscathed as she then proceeded to throw both chairs at them. The door slammed open. Clearly having the crashing sounds made by the monstrous strength of the Hokage as she hurtled things across the room would be enough to bring more people to the room, especially after recent events.

"Tsunade-sama!" Shizune yelled.

"Get these inept ANBU out of my sight!" Tsunade bellowed. "And him too!" Tsunade added, pointing at Sasuke. Sasuke was only too happy to oblige.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

"They think that what happened was an ‘attempt on my life,’” Tsunade sneered clearly showing what she thought of this idea. “Their first choice of punishment is execution since they consider you a complete threat. I am trying to push to get all charges dropped. If that doesn't work, I will attempt to push for banishment instead, but they say letting you leave will only allow you ample opportunity to rally others in order to finish off what you started," Tsunade said through the bars of a detainment cell three floors below ground level of the Hokage tower. Several hours had passed, and Tsunade was almost entirely sobered up, though she looked ashen and troubled.

Sakura could merely stare at Tsunade and merely nod her head at the information. She felt that she ought to apologize for her behavior, ought to apologize for nearly causing her former master's death at her own hands. Yet she wasn't sure if she said it if she would be telling the truth. Her entire body felt numb, and her own actions and situation had yet to catch up with reality.

"It's obvious they are grasping at straws. I think it's an attempt in order to paint Naruto in a negative light so he won't become Hokage. There are always those that will try to oppose whoever becomes Hokage, and I hadn't realized there were any left who would cook up such foolish nonsense in order to prevent Naruto's ascension to Hokage," Tsunade explained. Sakura's head shot up.

"Why would they consider Naruto to be a threat?"

"He was initially considered to be your accomplice in your 'attempt on my life.' It's in my will that if my death occurs prematurely to nominating the next Hokage that I have picked Naruto as the person who I believe should become the Rokudaime Hokage. But Naruto doesn't even know that, so they can't use that against him as an excuse for him trying to kill me," Tsunade explained, smiling wryly.

"What? But Naruto would never-"

"I know that. But considering your behavior, people would have thought you even less likely to want to kill me, yet you tried," Tsunade said. Sakura looked away. "I don't begrudge you your actions. I am well aware of my own folly. You can't be more upset with me than I am with myself, I assure you." Sakura hung her head.

"I am sorry," Sakura apologized, and meant it. The door to the cell area opened, and Sakura saw Shizune walk through the doorway.

"They've ruled on the death penalty," Shizune said, her face pale and stressed.

"Death penalty?" Sakura repeated. Tsunade nodded at the information, unsurprised.

"How much time do we have?" Tsunade asked.

"It's scheduled for tomorrow evening," Shizune said. Tsunade frowned.

"We'll have to prepare your escape for the morning then," Tsunade murmured. "We have much to prepare for tonight. Sakura, I'll make this up to you, and to Naruto, somehow," Tsunade murmured before leaving the room with Shizune.

"Wait! What is-" but Sakura's words died on her lips as Tsunade left.

Sakura paced her cell anxiously for several hours. No one came to see her, and she knew that she needed rest if she were to try to "escape." She finally decided to get some sleep, but she barely slept, and what little sleep she did get was restless and almost useless.

Being underground made it difficult for Sakura to know the exact time, but she had an inkling that it was sometime near dawn that someone finally came to see her.

"Naruto!" Sakura said, running to the bars in order to see her husband.

"Sakura-chan," Naruto said affectionately, kissing her through the bars. "Tsunade told me what happened. Everything is ridiculous. Something's clearly not right, and we need to get you away from here."

"Tsunade said she made plans to help me escape," Sakura said. Naruto nodded.

"We have a plan, and I'm coming with you," Naruto said, clasping Sakura's hands and kissing her on the forehead through the bars. Sakura closed her eyes, and shook her head.

"You'll die though, without Sasuke to help keep you alive," Sakura said, slightly bitter.

"I have to die sometime," Naruto said, grinning widely, completely side stepping her comment. Sakura frowned, wondering if Sasuke had told Naruto. Tsunade had said that Sasuke had finally confessed, but Naruto’s complete and utter reaction to Sasuke’s name seemed a bit odd to her. "Let me just take care of a few things and then I'll be back to break you out of here," Naruto said as he kissed her once more through the bars, and grasped her hands encouragingly before leaving the cell holding area. Sakura was unsurprised to feel another presence slip in almost immediately after Naruto left.

"Here to tell me to make Naruto stay?" Sakura asked bitterly as she looked over at Sasuke. Sasuke was quiet for a moment. He didn't look at her as she adjusted her wrists from the shackles binding her chakra. He carelessly leaned his head against the wall of the cell.

"He'd rather leave with you and die than stay here with me and live," Sasuke murmured. Sakura swallowed. Clearly Naruto did know what leaving Konoha meant if Sasuke said that Naruto would rather be with her, even if it meant death.

"You don't need to tell me that he's going to die with me. I already know that. I'm going to tell him to stay," Sakura said, turning her head away from Sasuke. "I won't be the cause of his death."

"You'll be killing him in other ways if you leave," Sasuke said. "He has to go with you." Sakura's head jerked up to look at Sasuke, wondering if she had heard him right.

"What?" Sakura asked.

"Naruto has to go with you. He's already said that. He'd rather die than be without you," Sasuke said, his voice sounding strange. Sakura's eyes widened as she saw a tear glisten at the corner of Sasuke's eye and then spill down his cheek.

"I won't let him come with me only to die because you can't-" Sakura said, the words dying on her lips. "Because you can't...do what you need to...in order to keep him alive."

Sasuke laughed hollowly, and Sakura stepped back, taken aback from the unnerving sound.

"I'll be going with you, of course. Do you think I would let him die?" Sasuke said. Sakura opened her mouth slightly, surprised. "Even if Naruto hates me, I won't let him die." Sakura shook her head.

"He'll never be able to become Hokage if he leaves, especially if the three of us leave. No one will believe it wasn't planned. If I leave, on my own, I can wait for Tsunade to clear my name. But don't think I won't be back," Sakura warned. "I'm not giving you the benefit of thinking you're the only one who thinks they know what is best for Naruto. I love Naruto. I love him more than you do. I'd rather be away for him for a year come back to him, knowing that he will be able to fulfill his dream."

"You really are an idiot. He already said he wants to come with you. He wants to make sure that you're alive and well. You'll be killing him on the inside if you don't let him come with you," Sasuke said.

"And you're an idiot! I can take care of myself, and don't you remember what Naruto has looked forward to for his entire life? Becoming Hokage means everything to him. I will not let him give up his dream to be with me for a year or two. That will slowly kill him. He may love me, hell, he may even care about you, but he cares about Konoha even more than he will ever admit. Konoha is his first love, his first need, and it will slowly kill him for years and years if he is away for this place for good. Slowly killing him for a year is better than slowly killing him for the rest of his life," Sakura said, knowingly. "I'll be back, don't think I won't be. I can't let you have him all to yourself after all. I know you'll manage to twist things."

"If I help you escape now, you have to promise to come back," Sasuke said. Sakura laughed hollowly.

"And here I thought you were this selfish bastard all this past month. You really do care about him, don't you?" Sakura said. Sasuke didn't respond. "I'll come back, but you have to promise me you'll take care of him, and keep him alive while I'm gone."

Sasuke smirked.

"Aren't you worried I'll make him forget all about you while you're gone?"

"He will never forget. And he'll be glad to see me when I get back."

"And what if he's changed his mind? What if he wants me in the end?" Sasuke asked seriously. Sakura shook her head.

"I get it now. You want me to come back for your own closure, don't you? You know that my leaving will only make him miss me more. You need me to come back in order to see who he chooses."

"Just because I don't want you dead and that I don't want Naruto to suffer doesn't mean I still don't want Naruto for myself."

"Naruto's still mine."

"We'll see about that."

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

As Naruto ran through the halls back to the cell that the ANBU were keeping Sakura in, the force of an explosion blew him back. Sirens and whistles sounded immediately after the blast.

"Sakura!" Naruto yelled in terror. Had they tried to kill her before the execution?! No! He jumped to his feet and ran faster than he had ever run before in his life.

ANBU had already swarmed through though, and he was not allowed entrance.

"Sakura! Sakura!" He called frantically. "Where's Sakura?" he demanded from the ANBU.

"Let him through!" Naruto whipped his head around to see Tsunade running down the hallway, looking just as confused as Naruto was, and quite as upset. Naruto's heart leapt to his throat. Even Tsunade hadn't seemed to be prepared for this type of escape. Once the ANBU realized that the Hokage was giving him a direct order an ANBU that wasn't one of the two that had been key players in instigating the entire mess in the first place let Naruto through. Naruto shoved past him, and skidded to a halt in front of Sakura's cell with Tsunade right behind him. His eyes darted around to see if he could spot Sakura, but even with all the debris he could see that Sakura was no where to be found. Under a second glance he realized that there had been multiple explosions. The cell was still locked shut, but there was another explosion on the ceiling of the cell wall, and while Naruto couldn't see up the hole, he could tell that the explosions had been made in order to allow Sakura to escape by going directly up the three floors in took to get to the ground level.

Tsunade let out an audible sigh of relief next to Naruto, and Naruto felt calmed somewhat until he realized that Sakura was running away without him.

He ran past Tsunade and down the corridors, shoving through the ANBU coming the opposite way, and headed to the ground level. He surveyed the damage on each floor, hearing the curses and the confusion of the people on the other floors, but not really paying much attention to them.

"Sakura!" Naruto yelled frantically, as he reached the ground floor and headed out the door.

A hand to his wrist jerked Naruto back, and he reacted by throwing a punch at whoever dare detain him.

"She's gone," Sasuke said as he caught Naruto's punch. Upon seeing it was Sasuke who held his wrist, Naruto's expression became completely blank. "She's gone for now. She didn't want you to follow. She wanted to make sure that you stayed here to protect Konoha. I've been instructed to kick your ass if you disobey her," Sasuke said. Naruto blinked.

"And why the hell should I believe anything you say?" Naruto said, his voice still somehow emotionless.

"You shouldn't," Sasuke murmured, and he handed Naruto a letter in Sakura's handwriting.


Naruto, my love, my dearest husband,

If you follow me, my name will never be cleared because people will really believe that we have conspired together. I will be back, I promise. The ANBU and government acted too quickly for Tsunade's liking. They're not listening to her side of the story about what happened, and she - and I as well - fear that this may be a scrapped together attempt to discredit you for become Hokage. I won't let that happen.

I promise I am not gone for good. I will be back within a year. If I get word that everything has been worked out sooner, I will come back immediately. Until I see you again, keep yourself alive and out of trouble.

I love you.
Much Love,
Sakura

P.S. I've given Sasuke permission to keep you out of trouble. If he abuses this privilege, I will abuse him upon my return.


Even though the handwriting was written hastily, Naruto knew that it was Sakura's.

"Naruto-" Sasuke began.

"Whatever it is, I don't want to hear it," Naruto said. He turned his back on Sasuke, and walked back inside the Hokage Tower, intent on getting some answers from Tsunade - or anyone. He was tired of being lied to and kept in the dark.

I have a feeling some people will have loved this chapter. I have a feeling some people will have despised this chapter. I personally found it very daunting to write. In fact, I wrote a one shot called “Shit Happens” in order to help me write this. I wrote over 4,000 words in a 24 hour period after writing that fic. It’s a comedy fic, and if you want to check it out, feel free to look on my profile on fanfiction.net for it.

And just as an FYI, Sakura is not out of this story, not by a long shot.

Also, for those of you who have read Identity Crisis, check out Starlight Devil’s amazing artwork! Delete the spaces in the link: http:// starlightdevil. deviantart. com/ art/ Naruto-Identity-Crisis-75808065 for Identity Crises. Check it out, and thanks Starlight Devil! (who also goes by Jave-Chan). Hope you enjoyed this chapter! ~ Jelp